India may have lost the decisive Border-Gavaskar Trophy match by six wickets, yet discussions persist regarding Indian captain Rohit Sharma's choice to withdraw from the critical Sydney Test. Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary opines that Rohit should have participated in the match as a leader.

Tiwary further remarked that Rohit's decision to sit out the Border-Gavaskar Trophy decider was a personal one, as head coach Gautam Gambhir would not have the authority to exclude either him or Virat Kohli from the lineup.

At 37 years of age, Rohit accumulated only 31 runs across three Tests against Australia. His absence from the playing XI sparked speculation about whether the management had opted to drop the Indian captain.

However, on the second day of the Sydney Test, Rohit clarified that his decision not to participate stemmed from the team's inability to accommodate multiple out-of-form players in the lineup. Throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which concluded with India losing 1-3, significant concerns were raised regarding the performance of both Rohit and Virat Kohli.

"I believe Rohit Sharma made this decision on his own. I don't think Gautam Gambhir would have the capacity to drop either Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma. It was Rohit's choice. He should have played in Sydney as he was the captain. He mentioned his struggles with scoring runs, but it is important to note that others were also facing similar challenges. At times, players may fall into a mindset where they feel they should be the ones dropped instead of others, leading to self-doubt and an undervaluation of their own abilities," Tiwary stated in an interview with Hindustan Times.

"This is not an appropriate approach for a captain. Rohit Sharma possesses exceptional talent and has demonstrated his capabilities. All players, including batters and bowlers, experience rough patches, as do coaches. These situations can be addressed, allowing players to return and perform well. Personally, I felt he should not have excluded himself. It appears he made this choice for the team's benefit. As a captain, one cannot opt to drop themselves when the Test series is at stake," he concluded.

Why no Jalaj Saxena?

Manoj Tiwary raised concerns regarding the selection of Tanush Kotian for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad following the retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin. He argued that Jalaj Saxena, a proven performer in first-class cricket, should have been given the opportunity to represent India in Australia.

At 38 years old, Jalaj Saxena, who plays for Kerala, has participated in 145 first-class matches, achieving 464 wickets and accumulating 6,834 runs. Tiwary highlighted India's difficulties in ICC events over the past decade as a rationale for his support of the off-break bowler.

"Tanush Kotian's selection surprised me. I believe Jalaj Saxena would have been a more suitable choice. He truly deserved that chance. The BCCI should have acknowledged a cricketer of his caliber, who has consistently excelled. Why was he overlooked upon Ashwin's retirement? What led to Tanush Kotian's inclusion? These issues are quite apparent," Tiwary stated.

He further remarked, "Some players receive undue advantages, while deserving candidates often lack the necessary support or influence, leading to their neglect. However, I do not wish to imply that the BCCI is inactive; I commend their contributions to Indian cricket. Nonetheless, we continue to struggle in ICC tournaments. Why can't we achieve the same level of success as Australia in these competitions?" 

Continuing his thoughts, he added, "Why do we celebrate so infrequently after winning an ICC tournament, as if we believe future victories are unlikely? We should maintain faith that we can win all ICC tournaments. With the available resources and player security, where are the results? The lack of performance stems from issues I have observed and experienced. If these matters are addressed, I am confident that India will secure numerous ICC tournament victories."

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