Boria Majumdar in Sydney
The story from India’s net session the day before the Sydney Test was Rohit Sharma. Is he playing or not playing? Has he been left out, or will it be a last-minute call? Gautam Gambhir keeping the option open at the press conference has added fuel to the fire. Rohit, for the record, did not take any slip catches today, batted only briefly in the nets, played some throwdowns and did not have a long stint. It could well be that he isn’t playing this Test, and India open with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Shubman Gill, dropped in Melbourne, would be restored to No. 3. While few could argue against such a call based on Rohit’s current form, the way it has been taken will surely be questioned.
There has been no formal announcement on whether he is playing or not. Rohit is still the captain and leader of this team, and the decision could have been communicated in a better manner. Gambhir, whose intentions can never be doubted – and I can say this having known him for years – could have handled the issue better in the press conference. He could either have said that Rohit is the captain and would indeed have a hand in deciding the playing XI, or just have put an end to speculation by answering straight up. Keeping things open-ended has only added to the rumours and the speculation.
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As captain and senior player, Rohit deserves respect. He may not be in form, but that doesn’t mean he should not be given his due. While team interest is paramount and Rohit can indeed be left out given his poor form, the way of going about it is what is in question here. Could India have fielded Rohit with Gambhir in the press conference? Should he have been asked to answer a few questions? Is it his decision to not hold on to a spot in the team’s interest? How was the decision arrived at? Shouldn’t there be transparency on the whole issue, or should it just be announced to the world on the morning of the game?
Knowing Rohit, he wouldn’t want the focus to only be on him ahead of a very important Test match. It is never about one player, and the moment that happens, it isn’t fair on the rest of the side. Also, he’d surely put team interest ahead of everything. If he felt he wasn’t confident enough, there is no harm in stepping aside and giving up the spot to someone like Gill. But then, this is a very sensitive issue and has to be handled with care.
I have no problem with the decision if it is taken, but I do have issues with the way it was conveyed, or not. Is it the end of Rohit’s red-ball career? Or does he want to go back to domestic cricket and try again? What’s the roadmap for someone who is nearly 38? We have no real answers to any of these questions, and that’s what is problematic. All we want is that the issue be handled with grace, and the man be given the respect he deserves. For that’s what makes a great team, and also a happy one.
Also Read: Gautam Gambhir refuses to confirm whether Rohit Sharma will lead in Sydney
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