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Reports: Rohit Sharma's 'ultra-cautious' batting prompted selectors to consider dropping him for Yashasvi Jaiswal before England ODIs originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Indian selectors reportedly weighed dropping Rohit for Jaiswal even before the England series began.
- BCCI had approach, fitness, and longevity doubts about Rohit ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
- Dinesh Karthik questions selection logic, calls decision unfair to Rohit.
Rohit Sharma's cautious approach reportedly pushed selectors toward picking Yashasvi Jaiswal before England tour
Even before India touched down for the England assignment, it turns out the national selectors were already seriously weighing whether to hand Rohit Sharma's opening slot to Yashasvi Jaiswal, largely because of how guarded and measured his batting had become at the crease.
Rohit's dismissal in Thursday's second ODI at Cardiff summed up his recent form.
It was a scratchy 26 runs off 47 balls before he walked back, possibly running low on time in international cricket. According to The Times of India, the selection panel has already concluded that he won't remain the automatic choice to open once the England series wraps up with Sunday's decider at Lord's.
Barring a dramatic turnaround, that final match could well be the last time the 39-year-old features for the country.
It was already indicated that the coaching staff wanted to fast-track Jaiswal's development ahead of the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, and Rohit was handed a lifeline to prove himself in this series.
MORE: 'Two matches don't make a difference': Kotak breaks silence on Rohit's retirement rumours
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Indian selectors had their doubts about Rohit since the captaincy change
The TOI report mentions that Rohit's performances haven't sat well with the team management ever since Gill took over as ODI captain following the triumphant Champions Trophy run in March last year.
It has previously been reported that concerns over his fitness and long-term durability were flagged to the board even before the Afghanistan squad was announced, with selectors unsure whether he could remain competitive by the time he crosses 40, closer to the World Cup.
His batting style shifted noticeably after the Champions Trophy, becoming far more careful and unhurried, with the management now believing he needs almost three matches within a series just to settle in.
"He also plays very little domestic cricket. He turned up for two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches last season, one of which was against Sikkim.
"He needs more time to find his rhythm. The selectors have conveyed their opinion. Now, it's up to Rohit and the board to decide how they want to go ahead with it."
MORE: Rohit OUT Jaiswal IN: Fans want Yashasvi to grab India ODI opening spot
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Selectors stuck with Rohit, but reluctantly
The original preference was to hand Jaiswal a complete run-through of the England series. Instead, the team management opted to give Rohit one more opportunity to find his touch.
That assessment has since been passed along to the BCCI, and it remains to be seen whether senior board figures or the selectors themselves will have a direct conversation with Rohit.
"The selectors had made up their minds to drop him after the ODI series against Afghanistan at home last month. Rohit also declined to rest for the third ODI in Chennai to give Jaiswal a look in. Eventually, captain Shubman Gill had to bat at No. 3 to accommodate Jaiswal," a BCCI source told TOI.
MORE: From Belfast to Lord's: Rohit's glittering ODI career for India detailed
The Bigger Picture: Punishing Rohit for playing it their way?
It is fair that the BCCI wants to hand more opportunities to Yashasvi Jaiswal, but one must ponder why Rohit keeps finding himself under the scanner despite adapting his game exactly as the team wanted.
Rohit was reportedly told to bat time and avoid recklessness early on, and when he does precisely that, he's suddenly not good enough. That inconsistency in messaging feels unfair to a player who has delivered for over a decade.
Selectors are entitled to plan for the future, but flip-flopping on what they expect from a senior player, then penalising him for meeting those expectations, sends a confusing signal to the entire dressing room. If the goal was genuinely a graceful transition, this hardly looks like one.
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