Gavaskar had speculated that Rohit might step down as captain if his form did not improve.
New Delhi: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar criticised Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer for their intent in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir. Rohit scored 3 and 28, while Iyer managed 11 and 17 in Mumbai’s five-wicket loss.
Writing in Sportstar, Gavaskar questioned their approach on a pitch with movement, noting that Rohit looked out of form and hesitant to settle in. He praised Shardul Thakur and Tanush Kotian for balancing caution and aggression, emphasising the importance of technique on challenging surfaces.
Gavaskar also criticised India batters’ aggressive Test approach, citing reckless dismissals in the Sydney Test against Australia. He questioned whether Rohit and Iyer played Ranji Trophy to retain their BCCI contracts, as Ishan Kishan and Iyer were previously dropped for skipping domestic matches. Their inclusion forced Ayush Mhatre, a consistent performer, out of the Mumbai XI.
Meanwhile, Rohit has reportedly lodged a complaint with the BCCI against Gavaskar for excessive criticism, Financial Times reported. The opener, struggling for form, felt the remarks added unnecessary pressure, especially after India’s 1-3 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and failure to qualify for the World Test Championship final. Gavaskar had speculated that Rohit might step down as captain if his form did not improve.
