Rohit Sharma is 'too big' to be forced into a decision: Former manager refutes BCCI rift speculations
Dropping the Indian Test captain amid a slump of form could have been in the hands of the management. However, forcing the 2024 T20 World Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy-winning skipper into retirement is not the kind of mandate that the BCCI can stamp. The exits of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli sent shockwaves through the Indian Test setup. Despite the subpar run in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, both the senior players appeared hopeful of a return in the next upcoming cycle. However, what followed were rather abrupt and subdued Test retirement announcements. The shock turned into speculation as rumour mills suggested that the BCCI pushed the captain and the former captain to the decision.
"BCCI did not force Rohit Sharma into Test retirement," says Ex-manager of team India
The Test retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, clubbed with that of Ravi Ashwin which arrived during the BGT, marked the end of an era. The conclusion, however, was not anticipated in the slightest. At the close of the last WTC cycle, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returned to domestic cricket, a sign that the seniors were inclined to pick their forms back up. Moreover, Rohit Sharma, after missing the Sydney Test, the last BGT fixture, had talked boldly about making a comeback in the format.
The promises or the signs did not materialise into reality as the seniors departed silently during IPL 2025. The move, hard-hitting for the fans, provided a breeding ground for speculations. Most of the theories villainised BCCI, citing the board to be responsible for making their favourites exit the format. However, Jaydev Shah, former manager of Team India who was with the team down under for the BGT, refuted BCCI's involvement in the Test retirement of the former Indian captain.
While Shah spilled that Rohit Sharma was 'dropped' from the Sydney Test, the last BGT fixture, the ex-manager clarified that players with stature as big as that of Sharma could not be forced to take any decisions. Shah reasoned that the 38-year-old might have wanted to focus solely on his white-ball game. With his T20I retirement following the World Cup win and the recent Test retirement, Rohit, along with Kohli, remains active only in the 50-over format.
“He had a baby, he came back and he couldn’t make runs. Okay, he was out of form. He was dropped from the last Test, but then he won the Champions Trophy. I think he thought it was time for him to play white ball more than red ball and give another cricketer a chance. I think the board was looking at things like, we have to prepare our team for the next championship. That’s a two-year cycle so it’s better if new players get set and get there," Shah said.
“And it didn’t seem like Rohit could take it for two more years. He also had his injury, he didn’t play a couple of IPL matches because of that either. I think that’s what he thought, and left for the team to grow and build nicely in the new cycle. Such big decisions are taken by big people like Rohit themselves,” he added.
