Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar seems to be unhappy with Jasprit Bumrah captaining the team in the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in place of Rohit Sharma. This is the first time we saw that the captain dropped himself from the playing XI due to poor form. When Bumrah came out for the toss, he said,
"Our captain has shown leadership by opting to rest in this game."
He won the toss and opted to bat first. The thing that shocked Manjrekar most was that Bumrah was not asked about Rohit's absence at the Test in the toss by Ravi Shastri.
Manjrekar said that the fans should be aware of what has happened to Rohit: Has he opted out or been dropped from the team? Fans have the right to know who has made cricket the great game in India. He said that he did the toss quite a few times, and the first question that he would ask Bumrah was about Rohit, but it was quite weird that Bumrah was not asked any question about Rohit.
"We have to share with the fans who have made cricket the outstanding game that is India. When they see Bumrah walking out, the first thought in their minds is what happened to Rohit Sharma? Has he opted out? Has he been dropped? I was amazed that at the toss he wasn't asked. I have done the toss a few times. That would have been the first question after asking him, What are you doing? I don't understand this cloak and dagger that is there in Indian cricket."
Manjrekar did not like the reason India stated that Rohit had opted to rest; he didn't play the first. The person who needs rest is the person who is captaining this Test.
"I believe the official word is that he has opted to rest. Will fans accept that? This is the guy who didn't play in the first Test and didn't play domestic cricket before the New Zealand series. If anyone needs rest, it is the captain who is playing this Test."
Further, Manjrekar stated that the Indian cricket culture has this issue because they do not tell or provide facts to fans who follow the game and players very passionately. They try to keep things secretive and mysterious.
"That is the issue that I have with Indian cricket culture. We have some brilliant cricketers, and the fans follow them passionately. We don't give them facts as much as they deserve in this very mysterious and secretive operation around some important matters. Rohit Sharma is not an all-time great. I can understand Virat Kohli if he were captain and left out. Rohit has played 60-odd Tests, averaged 40, and has one overseas hundred."
The 37-year-old has scored 31 runs in five Tests across three Tests and opted to drop himself from the Sydney Test. The 2024 season turned out to be a roller coaster ride for him in Test cricket as he scored 619 runs in 14 matches at an average of 24.76. It is also being stated that Rohit will soon announce his retirement from Test cricket.