Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar expressed his discontent following Jasprit Bumrah's announcement as the captain for the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, revealing that regular captain Rohit Sharma has chosen to rest. At the toss, Bumrah stated, "Our captain has shown leadership by opting to rest in this game." Notably, Bumrah, who won the toss and opted for India to bat in this crucial match to secure the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, was not questioned by Ravi Shastri regarding Rohit's absence.

Manjrekar voiced his astonishment at the lack of inquiry into Rohit's situation, emphasizing that fans deserve clarity. "We must communicate with the fans who have contributed to making cricket the esteemed sport it is in India. When they see Bumrah stepping onto the field, their immediate thought is about Rohit Sharma's status. Has he opted out? Has he been dropped? I was surprised that this question was not posed at the toss. Having conducted tosses myself, I would expect that to be the first question after inquiring about the match strategy. I fail to comprehend the secrecy surrounding Indian cricket," Manjrekar remarked on Star Sports.

The former cricketer also criticized the rationale behind "resting" Rohit Sharma, who has participated in only three Tests during this series. Manjrekar argued that if anyone warranted a break, it should be Bumrah, who has been the cornerstone of India's bowling lineup throughout the series.

"I understand the official statement is that he has chosen to rest. Will the fans accept this? This is a player who missed the first Test and did not participate in domestic cricket prior to the New Zealand series. If anyone requires rest, it is the captain who is playing in this Test," he concluded.

Rohit Sharma not an all-time great like Virat Kohli: Manjrekar

Manjrekar characterized the incident as "mysterious and secretive," asserting that Rohit Sharma does not belong in the same category as an all-time great like Virat Kohli. He expressed his concerns regarding the culture of Indian cricket, stating, "We have exceptional cricketers who are fervently supported by fans, yet we fail to provide them with the transparency they deserve due to the enigmatic and secretive handling of significant issues. Rohit Sharma cannot be considered an all-time great. I can comprehend if Virat Kohli were to be excluded as captain, but Rohit has participated in over 60 Tests, maintains an average of 40, and has only one century scored overseas."

Rohit made this decision after accumulating just 31 runs in five innings across three Tests. The 37-year-old, renowned for his white-ball prowess, appeared to be a mere shadow of his former self during these innings, struggling with even his fundamental shots, including his signature front pull.

Observing India's practice session the day before the match indicated that Rohit was likely to be sidelined.

Speculation regarding his future in Test cricket intensified following India's defeat in the fourth Test in Melbourne, which resulted in a tied five-match series at 1-2.

The year 2024 proved to be Rohit's least fruitful in Test cricket, as he managed only 619 runs in 26 innings over 14 matches, averaging 24.76.

Having played his 67th Test match in Melbourne, there are growing expectations that Rohit may soon conclude his tumultuous Test career.

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