Forced Rohit-Kohli Retirement, Now Gambhir Faces Backlash’: Another Former Cricketer Speaks Out

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Kolkata: The Indian cricket team’s shocking defeat in the Kolkata Test has once again put head coach Gautam Gambhir under intense scrutiny, particularly over team selection and leadership decisions. Critics have zeroed in on Gambhir’s controversial comments about a “transition phase,” which many feel indirectly justified the sudden retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket.

Former batsman Cheteshwar Pujara had earlier called such explanations “absurd,” asserting that the real issues lie elsewhere. Now, another ex-Indian cricketer, Manoj Tiwari, has weighed in with a strong critique, alleging that this narrative pressured senior players to step away despite their desire to continue.

‘No Place for Transition Narrative in Indian Cricket’

Tiwari told India Today, “There is no need for a ‘transition phase’ in Indian cricket because our domestic circuit is full of talented performers ready to seize opportunities. Using a ‘transition’ argument to push Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli away from Test cricket was unnecessary. These legends wanted to continue playing and maintaining the integrity of the format.”

He added, “Teams like New Zealand or Zimbabwe may need a transition phase, but India’s squad has enough depth. Because of this artificial transition narrative, our stars were slowly pushed aside, even though they still had much to contribute on the field.”

Criticism of Gambhir’s Approach

Tiwari also slammed Gambhir’s response after India’s loss to South Africa, where the coach blamed batsmen for the defeat. “Gambhir himself was a skilled player against spin. As a coach, his role should be to guide players, not accuse them. If batsmen struggled, proper pre-match training should have been provided. Simply blaming the players shows a failure in preparation,” Tiwari said.

Upcoming Challenge in Guwahati

India will now face South Africa in the second Test starting 22 November at the Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati. The team’s target is to bounce back and prevent South Africa from claiming their second Test series win in India after 25 years.

Rohit and Kohli’s Sudden Retirement

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had retired from T20 internationals after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup, but had stated intentions to continue in ODIs and Tests. However, in May this year, just before India’s England tour, both legends abruptly announced their Test retirements within a five-day span. This unexpected decision shocked Indian cricket, coming just weeks before one of its toughest overseas challenges, and paved the way for Shubman Gill to be appointed as the new Test captain.