Manoj Tiwary has accused former India opener Gautam Gambhir of playing an influential role in the decision to remove Rohit Sharma as India’s ODI captain. Tiwary, who has had a long-running public spat with Gambhir, suggested that the chief selector Ajit Agarkar could not have acted alone and that other voices behind the scenes helped shape the move that saw Shubman Gill named India’s new ODI skipper.
What Tiwary is claiming
Tiwary questioned the logic and fairness of stripping Rohit of the captaincy, saying the decision looked more political than cricketing. He praised Agarkar as a strong and decisive personality but insisted a choice as big as removing a decorated captain could not have been taken without outside influence.
“I don’t know what the main cause is. But knowing Ajit Agarkar, he is a personality. He is a decision maker. He will not take a step back in taking such steps. But whether he was influenced by someone to fire the gun from his shoulder is something we need to look at… You cannot make the decision on your own. Both are equally responsible for whatever decision was made.”
Why Tiwary says the move felt wrong
Tiwary made it clear he felt Rohit was disrespected. He pointed to Rohit’s recent performances in ODIs and his leadership pedigree — Rohit has led India to two ICC trophies — to argue that doubts about Rohit’s form or fitness for the 2027 World Cup were misplaced.
“It doesn’t make sense for the selectors to question his intention or leadership skills… I felt it was disrespectful to a cricketer who has given so much to the cricket lovers across the world.”
Inconsistency in selection and loss of interest
Tiwary also criticised what he described as inconsistent team selection and the unclear thinking behind recent moves. He admitted the captaincy change has affected his interest in ODI cricket.
“If I have to be brutally honest with you, I have lost interest in watching the ODI games… The things that have panned out of late, when the T20 World Cup-winning captain and the Champions Trophy-winning captain is removed from the captaincy, and the responsibility is given to the new guy, which I felt was not required.”
Rohit’s recent career context
- Rohit retired from T20 internationals in June 2024 and from Test cricket in May 2024.
- Despite those retirements, he continued to play ODIs and was seen as a key figure heading into the longer-term plan for the 2027 World Cup.
- His last stint as captain ended with silverware — he led India to the ICC Champions Trophy in his final match as India’s captain.
Gill’s captaincy and mixed reactions
When India’s ODI squad for the Australia series was announced in October, Shubman Gill was named captain. The choice divided opinion: some welcomed a fresh, long-term leadership plan, while others — like Tiwary — found the timing and manner of the change hard to justify, given Rohit’s track record.
What this means for Indian cricket
The episode highlights the heat around leadership transitions in big teams like India. Questions raised by figures such as Tiwary underline how sensitive captaincy changes can be — not just for the players involved but for fans and pundits. Whether the selectors and support staff anticipated the backlash or believed the move was necessary for future planning, the debate is unlikely to die down soon.
For now, Rohit remains a prominent figure in Indian cricketing memory — a big-match performer and two-time ICC trophy winner — while Gill steps into a high-pressure role that will be closely watched by supporters and critics alike.