Rohit Sharma made every effort to be fully prepared for his comeback to international cricket. He worked tirelessly on his training, shed significant weight, and successfully cleared Team India’s fitness test, proving his commitment and discipline.

However, just before the Australia tour, the BCCI made a surprising move by appointing Shubman Gill as the new ODI captain, ending Rohit’s leadership role in the format. The decision marked a major shift, especially given Rohit’s vast experience and success as captain.

At 38, the change may not have been easy for Rohit. It sends a clear message that every player, regardless of stature, will be assessed purely on performance. If the veteran opener fails to maintain form or consistency, the selectors may not hesitate to make tough calls regarding his future in the side.

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ODI Captaincy: From Rohit Sharma to Shubman Gill:

The decision to hand over the ODI captaincy to Shubman Gill has surprised many. While the 26-year-old was always seen as Rohit Sharma’s natural successor, the timing feels abrupt, especially since Rohit recently led India to a Champions Trophy victory in his last game as captain.

However, such leadership transitions aren’t new to Indian cricket. A similar change happened when MS Dhoni stepped aside and Virat Kohli took over in 2017, two years before Dhoni’s final World Cup appearance. The key difference this time is that Rohit’s place in India’s long-term plans, particularly for the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, is uncertain, making Gill’s early promotion part of a strategic generational shift.

While Rohit Sharma’s participation in the 2027 World Cup remains uncertain, former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary has voiced strong support for the veteran. He suggested that the 38-year-old should not tolerate further disrespect from the BCCI.

Tiwary believes the situation could worsen if Rohit continues playing under such circumstances. He feels it’s better for one of India’s most celebrated batters to retire gracefully from the only format he still represents, rather than face potential embarrassment later.

He said, “ I don't think he (Rohit) is really in their plans anymore. Everything now depends on his performance. If I were Rohit Sharma, I would have considered retirement after this. A player like him doesn't deserve this kind of humiliation.”

Manoj Tiwary upset over BCCI’s handling of Rohit Sharma:

Rohit Sharma’s time as India’s captain may have been shorter than that of many before him — less than four years — but it was nothing short of remarkable. During his leadership, India broke their ICC trophy drought twice.

He guided the team to their second T20 World Cup title after defeating South Africa in the final and later led another unbeaten campaign to lift the Champions Trophy. His consistency and calm leadership stood out throughout both tournaments.

Although India narrowly missed out on the 2023 ODI World Cup title, Rohit’s men delivered an extraordinary run, winning 10 consecutive matches. That golden stretch felt like a national celebration. Given these achievements, Manoj Tiwary’s disappointment over Rohit’s sidelining is understandable, as the veteran’s contribution deserves far greater respect.

He further said, “ He didn't just win one ICC trophy - he won two. He came so close in the ODI World Cup as well, performing brilliantly both as a captain and as a player. And let's not forget - he has five IPL trophies to his name. After all of that, to be treated this way is just not right.”

He added, “ Personally, I don't think he should continue after being disrespected like this. If you ask me, before they push him out, it would be better if he himself steps away – at least that way, he can leave with his dignity intact.”

Multiple prolific batters for the same position made the situation complex for Indian team management to select a first XI. To make room for Shubman Gill in the opening spot, the management decided to bring down Sanju Samson on the batting order. Instead of using the pair Samson and Abhishek Sharma, Gautam Gambhir and Company is preferring the Gill and Sharma combination as the opening combination for the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. But why did Men in Blue have to break the partnership of Sharma and Samson?

Former cricketer Manoj Tiwari made some shocking remarks on the issue. According to him, it was the head coach, Gautam Gambhir, who initiated the process to break the partnership, which delivered well enough for India in the past. Tiwari claimed that Gambhir preferred Gill because Gill would listen to Gambhir properly. 

"Shubman Gill is a good batter and has done well for India and in the IPL. He was magnificent in the IPL as a batter and captain. He likes to take the responsibility," the former India cricketer said.

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Why Indian team management broke the proven opening pair?

"We saw Abhishek Sharma and Samson in Zimbabwe. They gave starts against Bangladesh. The team had never shown that kind of attacking mindset before in T20 cricket. So, when the two players have given you starts, scored hundreds, and won matches, why do you want to bring Shubman Gill? The reason is that Gambhir wants a captain who listens to him." 

Interestingly, Samoson, in the Asia Cup 2025, has yet to get the chance to show his batting talent after playing a couple of my matches, including the high-voltage match against the archrival Pakistan. During the match against Pakistan, the management promoted all-rounder Shivam Dube in order to conclude the match. And he did that precisely with the skipper, Surya Kumar Yadav. On the other hand, Gill has amassed 30 runs in two innings.

The former Indian batter, Manoj Tiwary, has remarked that Shubman Gill’s return to the vice-captaincy spot in T20Is ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 was because the head coach, Gautam Gambhir, favors working with him. Gill became the red-ball captain of the Blue Brigade during their trip to England, which they drew by a margin of 2-2.

The former Kolkata Knight Riders’ batter, Manoj Tiwary, hailed Gill’s batting success, citing his impeccable numbers in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Gujarat Titans. His return to the playing eleven has, however, pushed the wicket-keeper batter, Sanju Samson, into the middle order of the side.

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“Shubman Gill is equally good; he has done that and shown that in the IPL as well. He has been outstanding in the IPL. He has been a good captain in the IPL, where he has taken more responsibility, and the role has been given to him.” Tiwary claimed during a recent interaction on Inside Sport.

Manoj Tiwary drops shocking statement on Gautam Gambhir’s coaching

Under Gambhir, India lifted the Champions Trophy 2025 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before winning the first two games of the event against the UAE and Pakistan to qualify for the Super 4 stage of the competition. However, under his appointment, they lost the home Test series by 3-0 against New Zealand before facing a 3-1 series defeat against Australia during the BGT 2024-25 down under.

“But, you have to see that before Gill was in the squad, in Zimbabwe, we saw Abhishek Sharma and Samson, we then saw them producing starts against Bangladesh, which we never imagined as a cricket fan. Team India had never shown that kind of approach in a T20 game.” Tiwary shed light during the same interaction.

“So, when these two individuals have given you the performances and the starts, they both have been superb, they have scored hundreds, then why do you want to change that up here and bring Shubman Gill? The reasons are well known; it's an open secret that he wants a captain who wants to listen to him.” The former Bengal captain concluded.

The former Indian middle-order batter, Manoj Tiwary, has decided to boycott the upcoming clash of the Men’s Asia Cup between India and Pakistan on September 14 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, on the back of the Pahalgam terror attack. The clash has already got so many controversies around the various social media platforms.

The West Bengal's Sports Minister claimed that the game will just be a normal sport between bat and ball, and they should never look to compare human lives with sports. Not only this clash, but Tiwary has decided to boycott the entire Asia Cup 2025.

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“I am boycotting the India vs Pakistan match as well as the Asia Cup because I cannot watch this. It needs to be understood that this is just a sport; this is not life. We are comparing human lives to sports; this should never be done. It is a very unfortunate situation. The problem has been ongoing for years.” Tiwary expressed during the recent interaction on ANI.

Manoj Tiwary decides to boycott Asia Cup 2025 after Pahalgam terror attack

The former Bengal captain has also shed light on how only the families who died on the line of duty while defending the nation can understand the terrorist attacks. India will be coming into their second encounter on the back of their dominating victory against the UAE when they chased 58 runs in 27 balls.

“From Pulwama to Pahalgam to Pathankot to all the numerous terrorist attacks. No Indian has forgotten this. You want to play the India vs Pakistan match in such a situation. I have never been anti-sports; I have been a Cricket player, and I am a Sports Minister. I had said that on a personal front, I am boycotting the India vs Pakistan match as well as the Asia Cup.” Tiwary shed light.

“It needs to be understood that this is just a sport; this is not life. We are comparing human lives to sports; this should never be done. Only the families of those who die in the line of duty while defending the nation and innocent civilians who are killed in terrorist attacks can understand this. So, I feel this should not have happened.” The former Indian batter explained.

Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary, who served for India and four different IPL teams, including winning the IPL 2012 trophy with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after scoring the title-winning run, recently spoke about the former Indian captain Virat Kohli. He opened up Kohli's chances for the next ODI World Cup. 

While the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 is very near, India will soon also start to prepare for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, which South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia will host in October-November 2027. 

The 36-year-old former all-format Indian captain Virat Kohli is one of the greatest batters in international cricket history. While he retired from the T20I format after winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, he retired from Test cricket this year. Kohli is now active in the ODI format and also serving for his IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who won their first IPL title in the latest season. 

Kohli is still one of the fittest cricketers at present, which he has proved during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and IPL 2025. Kohli was the fifth leading run-scorer in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 with 218 runs in five innings with an average of 54.50, including one century and one half-century. The right-handed batter was also the third leading run-scorer in the IPL 2025 with 657 runs in 15 matches with an average of 54.75. 

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Very difficult to keep out Virat Kohli from the plans for 2027 World Cup: Manoj Tiwary

The BCCI has now introduced the Bronco Test for the national team selection. Manoj Tiwary, who played 12 ODIs and three T20Is, is confident that Kohli will pass the Bronco Test, but the present Indian ODI captain Rohit Sharma may struggle. Tiwary believes that it will be hard to keep Kohli out of the next ODI World Cup.  

Tiwary told CricTracker, “I think it will be very difficult to keep out Virat Kohli from the plans for 2027 World Cup. But I have a doubt that they are going to look at Rohit Sharma into the scheme of things." 

Virat Kohli: 2nd most run-scorer in ODI World Cup history

Kohli is the second leading run-scorer (1795 runs) in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup history, just behind Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar (2278 runs). While India just missed their ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 title by losing their only game of the tournament in the Final against Australia, Kohli finished as the leading run-scorer with 765 runs, as the Player of the Tournament had an average of 95.62, including three centuries and six half-centuries.   

Kohli was a key member of the Indian team that won the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 under the leadership of MS Dhoni. However, the former Indian captain is still hungry and ready for his next mission. 

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia recently brushed aside speculations linking Shreyas Iyer as Rohit Sharma’s successor in ODI cricket. Despite this, Iyer’s name has surfaced again in discussions about India’s future captaincy.

Former cricketer Manoj Tiwary openly supported Iyer as a strong candidate to lead the national side. He highlighted Iyer’s temperament, experience, and leadership qualities as factors that could make him a suitable choice to take on the responsibility once Rohit steps down.

However, Tiwary also hinted at competition for the role. He pointed out that Shubman Gill could be in contention, particularly because of his growing stature and the support he reportedly enjoys from head coach Gautam Gambhir. This could create an interesting battle between the two talented players, with the final decision likely influenced by both performance and long-term planning for India’s white-ball future.

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Manoj Tiwary Talks About Intense Competition for ODI Captaincy Role:

Shreyas Iyer has often remained an overlooked candidate for India’s white-ball captaincy, despite showing leadership qualities early in his career. Since 2018, he has consistently led Mumbai in domestic tournaments such as the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. He also gained valuable experience captaining India A under Rahul Dravid’s guidance.

His reputation grew further with his success in the Indian Premier League. Shreyas achieved a rare feat by steering three different teams to IPL finals in successive seasons, winning the 2024 title with Kolkata Knight Riders and reaching the 2025 final with Punjab Kings, after earlier guiding Delhi Capitals in 2020.

This rare three-peat made him the only skipper to achieve such a record. However, beyond statistics, what impressed Manoj Tiwary the most was Iyer’s calm approach, tactical mindset, and the ability to bring out the best in his team.

In an interaction with Crictracker, Manoj Tiwary said, “ After Rohit Sharma, obviously, I would say Shreyas Iyer, because the way he has led, wherever he has led in franchise cricket, I have not seen him in first-class cricket, but he has also won a trophy for Mumbai in domestic cricket as well.”

He further said, “ But when I was doing commentary, I observed the evolution of Shreyas Iyer as a captain. He is one of those who lead from the front, he scores a lot of runs, and he makes great decisions on the field, which is a must for a good captain. He has done that successfully, as we saw during his KKR tenure.”

Tiwary Also Suggests Shreyas Deserves Recognition for Winning IPL Title for KKR:

The ex-India cricketer stated that Shreyas Iyer deserved greater recognition for guiding KKR to the IPL title. However, he felt the credit was shifted towards Gautam Gambhir, who was serving only as a mentor that season. According to him, strong PR influence played a role in shaping this narrative. Interestingly, that was Gambhir’s lone year with KKR before he became India’s head coach two months later.

He stated, “ In 2024, KKR emerged as champions under his captaincy, but he didn’t get the credit he deserved. The PR machinery worked in such a way that the credit was given to only one individual in the team. I felt he should also have got recognition, along with Chandrakant Pandit and Bharat Arun. They were the supporting staff, while he was the leader making the calls on the field.”

Manoj Tiwary’s Opinion on India’s Future Leadership:

Speaking about Team India’s future leadership, Tiwary suggested that Shreyas Iyer has the qualities to captain the side for an extended period. However, he also noted that Iyer may encounter strong competition from Shubman Gill, who is highly regarded and enjoys the support of head coach Gautam Gambhir, making the captaincy race an intriguing one.

He concluded, “ I feel Shreyas Iyer will eventually lead Team India, and he will lead for a long period of time. But at the same time, he will be fighting this captaincy battle with Shubman Gill because the current coach, Gautam Gambhir, likes Shubman Gill more than Shreyas Iyer. So there will be a fight. But let’s see what the future unfolds for all of us.”

Virat Kohli, the Indian captain, posted an Instagram post to announce his Test retirement, which came as a shock to his teammates and the fans just before the start of the five-match Test series in England. Many felt that the Delhi-born could have easily played for another two years in the longest format, especially the entire WTC 2025-27 cycle.

The former Indian batter, Manoj Tiwary, during a recent interaction, has claimed that Kohli felt insecure in the team environment, which pushed him to make the decision. Tiwary also feels that Kohli, being a spiritual person in recent years, won’t reveal the reason for his retirement in public.

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“I don't know what happened. What is the story behind the scenes? I think he was not feeling like he was wanted in Team India. Only he can say. I think he will not come out and ever say this thing in a public forum because the human he has become, he has evolved as a human being. I think he is very happy with what God has given to him.” Tiwary told Crictracker.

Manoj Tiwary blames India’s team environment for Virat Kohli’s Test retirement

Kohli hung up his shoes as the fourth leading run-getter in Tests for India. The right-handed batter smashed 9230 runs in 210 innings at an average of 46.85, scoring 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 254 runs against South Africa in Pune. His last red-ball century came in Perth during the BGT 2024-25.

“He is becoming spiritual as well. When someone becomes spiritual, they just leave all these things aside and focus on the present. They don’t want to talk about the past. He has evolved as a human being; I don’t think he will come forward and ever say what has happened behind the scenes.” The former Kolkata Knight Riders’ batter commented.

“He could have easily played for another three years minimum and four years. It was very surprising and shocking for all the cricket fans, including me as well, because all we knew was that he was so physically fit and he was preparing himself for the England series.” Manoj Tiwary concluded in the interaction.

Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary criticised captain Shubman Gill for his aggressive behaviour during the third Test against England at Lord’s. On Day 3, tensions flared as Gill engaged in a heated exchange with England opener Zak Crawley, who was allegedly trying to run down the clock. The altercation drew attention, with Tiwary expressing concern over the young captain’s conduct in high-pressure situations.

Tiwary further suggested that Gill appeared to be imitating Virat Kohli’s on-field aggression, which could be impacting his own game. He advised the Indian skipper to maintain his intensity without resorting to verbal spats, as such actions could drain his focus and energy. Tiwary emphasized the importance of leading with controlled aggression, ensuring that Gill channels his emotions into performance rather than confrontations, especially during critical moments in the match.

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“I don’t like the way Captain Gill is going about things. I think he is trying to copy what Virat did last time. And as a result, it is not helping his batting. Ever since he became a captain in the IPL, I have noticed that he is getting into an aggressive mindset, and having animated chats with umpires. It was unlike Gill. He doesn’t need to show that kind of aggression, and doesn’t have to prove anything. I know a captain should lead from the front, but this much aggression is not required. It takes your energy away. He can stick to his style of being aggressive. It doesn’t mean that you have to always give it back verbally. Aggression can also be shown by winning Test matches. India could have easily led the series 2-1. Such aggression is not good for the game, especially from the captain of the Indian cricket team,” said Tiwary as quoted by SportsBoom.

I am not happy with the language and words: Manoj Tiwary

Manoj Tiwary also expressed his disappointment over the language and conduct displayed during the match at Lord’s. He emphasized that the kind of words exchanged on the field were inappropriate and reflected a growing trend in modern cricket that needs to be curbed. Tiwary stressed the importance of maintaining decorum, especially in the longest format of the game, where emotions often run high. He urged players to exercise restraint and ensure that their aggression doesn't cross the line, maintaining the spirit of the game while still playing with intensity and passion.

Throughout the years, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been the site of many struggles for the biggest names in this sport, causing some of them to struggle with higher strike rates on particular venues, highlighting the difference in pitch conditions all over India.

Virat Kohli’s Struggles at Chepauk

Although he is one of the most dangerous run-scorers of the IPL till now, Bangalore Royal Challengers and Indian favorite Virat Kohli had a restrained run due to Chepauk. His career strike rate of 110.40 at this ground is the lowest among the majority of the people with at least 400 runs. The slowness and the turn of the ball offered by the track at Chepauk, which is basically a spin-friendly track, is the main reason for batsmen to struggle to make their shots. Consequently, they have to change the way they hit the ball. The other one is S. Badrinath, who has played many shots, but his strike rate of 116.80 is the lowest of all.

Also read:IPL 2025: latest points table after RCB vs CSK match

Eden Gardens – The Nightmares of the Greats

The Eden Gardens in Kolkata have been a slippery road to walk on for some of the biggest names who have ever arrived there. Some big names like Manoj Tiwary, Jacques Kallis, and Sourav Ganguly have encountered hurdles in reaching higher strike rates at the venue

Manoj Tiwary – 111.71
Jacques Kallis – 112.25
Sourav Ganguly – 119.01

Ajinkya Rahane, known for his classical style, has a strike rate of 114.95 at MCA, Pune.

Made public recently, it seems unlikely that these kinds of numbers will grow in the future. These numbers are clear enough to indicate the difficulty that the greatest of batsmen face when they have to adjust themselves to the venue in IPL. It happens because there are not just one but two main types of challenges. To start things off, some grounds in the IPL are offering support to the bowlers. It is essential to know how to adapt to the conditions if you want to be successful in the IPL.

Ranji Trophy, India's prominent domestic First-Class tournament, is widely regarded as the pathway to the Indian squad for all aspiring cricketers across the country. In every period, Indian cricket has been blessed with brilliant cricketers from all game sectors. However, as the saying goes, skill alone will not allow a cricketer to thrive in life. To succeed in international cricket, in addition to skill, one must have the appropriate temperament, luck, and support from team management and selectors. 

Recently, prominent players such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ravindra Jadeja have been among those who have used the Ranji Trophy as a platform to fine-tune their game. This article focuses on five players who rose to popularity via their Ranji Trophy performances. Still, when given the opportunity to play on the international stage, they could not unleash their full potential, leading them to get neglected by the Indian squad.