Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar expressed his criticism on Tuesday regarding the performances of Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer during Mumbai's recent Ranji Trophy group match against Jammu and Kashmir at the MCA Ground in Mumbai. In this match, Rohit scored 3 and 28, while Iyer managed 11 and 17, contributing to Mumbai's five-wicket defeat.

In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar voiced his dissatisfaction with the intent displayed by Rohit and Iyer as they faced the Jammu and Kashmir bowling attack on a pitch that offered some movement. He noted that Rohit appeared to be out of form, exhibiting a lack of stability and readiness to endure prolonged periods at the crease. This issue was not limited to Rohit; Iyer and several other top-order batsmen also fell victim while attempting aggressive shots against the bowlers.

Gavaskar commended Shardul Thakur and Tanush Kotian, who were the only two notable performers for Mumbai in this disappointing match. He emphasized the importance of balancing caution with aggression in red-ball cricket, highlighting Thakur's scores of fifty and 119, as well as Kotian's half-century in the second innings, following his recent selection for the Indian team for the upcoming tour of Australia.

He remarked, "The dismissals of Mumbai’s Test batsmen once again highlighted the risks associated with an overly aggressive batting style that is often considered essential for scoring runs. While this approach may succeed on flat pitches, it requires a solid technique to defend against quality deliveries on more challenging surfaces."

Gavaskar further criticized the aggressive batting mindset adopted by Indian players in Test cricket, referencing the recent defeat in the Sydney Test against Australia. He stated, "The likelihood of dismissals increases when players attempt to adopt a style that is not natural to them, as evidenced in the recent Sydney Test, where impulsive decisions led to some regrettable dismissals. A touch of common sense and patience, rather than a reckless attitude, could have yielded an additional 50 runs, potentially altering the outcome of both the match and the series."

'…did it to ensure they weren't stripped of BCCI contract'

The legendary Indian cricketer raised concerns regarding whether Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer made themselves available solely in response to the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) recent directive, which once again emphasized the importance of domestic cricket for regular players to maintain their relevance for selection to the national team. This directive is part of the board's new ten-point policy for contracted players following India's disappointing performance during the tour of Australia.

"It remains uncertain whether their commitment was genuine or merely a strategy to avoid losing their BCCI contracts, similar to what happened to Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer after they missed the Ranji Trophy matches last year. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal's involvement resulted in Ayush Mhatre, who had achieved a couple of centuries and several fifties, being excluded from the Mumbai squad. It is hoped that the young player had the opportunity to engage with both of these experienced cricketers to enhance his batting skills," he remarked.

Gavaskar expressed his anticipation for the return of KL Rahul and Virat Kohli to the Ranji Trophy. Both players were absent from the fifth round of the domestic tournament due to injuries but are expected to participate in the final round commencing on January 30.

"It will be intriguing to observe whether KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and Virat Kohli, who were unavailable for last week's Ranji Trophy matches, will take part in the upcoming round," he concluded.

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