Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma has allegedly lodged a complaint with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) against legendary batter and commentator Sunil Gavaskar, according to a report by CricBlogger. The report suggests that Rohit felt Gavaskar’s comments about his poor form against Australia were “too negative” and added unnecessary pressure on him.
Gavaskar’s Criticism of Rohit Sharma
During India’s recent Test series against Australia, Rohit struggled with the bat, scoring only 31 runs in three matches. He even dropped himself from the final Test in Sydney due to his poor form. In his column for the Sydney Morning Herald, Gavaskar stated that Rohit “would step down from captaincy if he doesn’t score runs in Melbourne and Sydney, rather than waiting for the selectors to make that call.”
Rohit reportedly felt that such comments were harsh and unwarranted, especially at a time when he was struggling to regain form. Sources reveal that Rohit found Gavaskar’s criticism unwarranted, prompting him to lodge a complaint with the BCCI.
Rohit, Jaiswal, and Iyer to Miss Mumbai’s Final Ranji Trophy Match
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma, along with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer, will miss Mumbai’s crucial Ranji Trophy clash against Meghalaya, which starts on Thursday. Mumbai, led by Ajinkya Rahane, is currently third in Group A, behind Jammu and Kashmir and Baroda, with 22 points in six matches. Their recent five-wicket loss to J&K has put their quarter-final hopes in jeopardy.
The trio will instead join the Indian squad in Nagpur on February 2 to prepare for the upcoming ODI series against England, which starts on February 6.
BCCI’s Domestic Cricket Mandate
The return of senior players like Rohit and Jaiswal to Ranji Trophy followed BCCI’s new directive, which mandates top players to participate in domestic competitions. This rule came after India’s consecutive Test series defeats to New Zealand and Australia, which ended their hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final.
Rohit’s Ongoing Struggles
Rohit Sharma has endured a prolonged slump in red-ball cricket, managing just 164 runs in his last 15 Test innings at an average of 10.93 this season. His struggles continued in the Ranji Trophy, where he scored only 3 and 28 against J&K.
Jaiswal also had a modest performance in Mumbai’s last match, scoring 4 and 26, but has had a better Test season, registering one century and two half-centuries in Australia.
In contrast, Shreyas Iyer has been Mumbai’s top performer this season, accumulating 480 runs in seven innings at an average of 68.57, including two centuries. His form has also been outstanding in white-ball cricket, scoring two unbeaten centuries in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and amassing 345 runs at a strike rate of 188.52 in Mumbai’s victorious Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign.
What’s Next for Rohit and Team India?
- Rohit Sharma, Jaiswal, and Iyer will skip Mumbai’s last Ranji match and join the Indian squad in Nagpur on February 2.
- The India vs England ODI series begins on February 6, serving as preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy later this year.
- Mumbai faces a must-win match against Meghalaya to stay in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final race but will be without its star players.
- With the BCCI yet to respond to Rohit’s alleged complaint against Gavaskar, it remains to be seen how the situation unfolds.