Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has raised concerns over the intentions of Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer following Mumbai’s disappointing five-wicket loss to Jammu and Kashmir in their Ranji Trophy group match. Both players, who are integral members of the Indian team, struggled at the crease during the match, with Rohit scoring 3 and 28 and Iyer managing 11 and 17 in the two innings.
Criticism of Aggressive Batting Approach
In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar questioned the intent of both players, particularly their aggressive batting against a Jammu and Kashmir attack on a pitch with a hint of movement. Rohit, according to Gavaskar, appeared to be out of form, shaky, and unwilling to grind out long innings. Iyer, too, was criticized for his impatience, as several top-order batters, including the two Indian stars, fell while trying to play aggressively.
Gavaskar praised Shardul Thakur and Tanush Kotian for their resilience, with Thakur scoring a fifty and 119, while Kotian—who was recently called up to the Indian squad for the Australia tour—made a half-century in the second innings. Gavaskar pointed out that a balanced approach, mixing caution and aggression, is vital in red-ball cricket, particularly when the pitch offers movement to the bowlers.
“The dismissal of Mumbai’s Test batters once again brought to the fore the perils of the all-out aggressive mode of batting that is nowadays thought of as being central to run-making. It can work on flat pitches, but on pitches where the ball is doing something, there has to be a technique good enough to keep out the good delivery,” he wrote.
A Wider Concern Over Test Batting
Gavaskar also reflected on India’s broader batting approach, specifically in Test cricket. He referenced the Sydney Test loss to Australia, where India’s batsmen struggled with aggression, leading to rash dismissals. Gavaskar suggested that a more patient approach could have added crucial runs and potentially altered the course of the match and series. “There are more chances of a dismissal while looking to play in a manner that one is not used to… A bit of common sense and patience, rather than a fatalistic approach, could have gotten another 50 runs, and that could well have altered the result of the match and the series,” he added.
Concerns Over Player Intentions and BCCI Mandate
Gavaskar further questioned whether Rohit and Iyer‘s participation in the Ranji Trophy was truly motivated by a desire to play or if they were simply trying to fulfill the BCCI’s mandate for regular Indian players to prioritize domestic cricket in order to retain their BCCI contracts. The mandate was issued after India’s poor performance in the 2020-2021 tour of Australia, which saw key players like Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer lose their contracts for missing out on domestic cricket.
“Whether their hearts were in it or they did that only to ensure they were not stripped of their BCCI contracts… is known only to them,” Gavaskar remarked. He also noted that Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal‘s inclusion meant Ayush Mhatre, a promising young talent who had performed well in the domestic circuit, was left out of the Mumbai side.
Eagerly Awaiting the Return of KL Rahul and Virat Kohli
In closing, Gavaskar expressed his anticipation for the return of KL Rahul and Virat Kohli to the Ranji Trophy. Both players had missed the fifth round due to injuries but are expected to feature in the final round starting on January 30. Gavaskar looks forward to seeing how these stars, alongside Mohammed Siraj, will contribute to their respective teams.
“It would be interesting to see if KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and Virat Kohli, who didn’t play in last week’s round of Ranji Trophy matches, will play the next round,” he added.
Conclusion
Sunil Gavaskar’s comments underline the ongoing debate in Indian cricket about balancing aggression with technique, especially in Test cricket. His concerns about the intentions behind the players’ participation in domestic cricket also highlight the growing pressure on national players to perform at both the international and domestic levels. As the Ranji Trophy progresses, the spotlight will remain on how key players like Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, and others approach their upcoming matches.
