“Because of their stature” – Ahead of BGT, Sanjay Manjrekar slams selectors on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli skipping Duleep Trophy after NZ drubbing

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has slammed the selectors for resting under-fire India captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the 2024 Duleep Trophy. The reaction comes after the duo failed miserably against Bangladesh and New Zealand ahead of the upcoming 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

The cricketer-turned-commentator pointed out that the BCCI should not treat players based on their stature. Manjrekar added that the senior players would’ve only benefitted by playing those three first-class games. Notably, the likes of Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant scored big in Tests after taking part in those matches.

On Tuesday, Manjrekar wrote on X:

“The big learning for the selectors from this home season is that do not rest the already well-rested players because of their stature. I say this again, both Rohit & Virat would only have benefited from playing the Duleep Trophy start of the season.”

Last five Tests:

• Rohit Sharma: 133 runs @13.3
• Virat Kohli: 192 runs @21.33
• Shubman Gill: 308 @44
• Rishabh Pant: 422 @46.88

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“Practice more” – Sunil Gavaskar advises Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Sunil Gavaskar has urged Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to practice more since they are in their mid-30s. The cricketer-turned-commentator took the example of Sachin Tendulkar. He said (via India Today):

“I think you need to get the flow right and particularly in your mid-thirties, you got to be getting that bat speed the flow, everything, right? So rather than relax more, practice more matches is probably the answer.”

He continued:

“That’s the reason why Sachin Tendulkar was Sachin Tendulkar. He was so fiercely proud of what he could do and what he wanted to do for the team. Don’t forget the 200 at the Brabourne Stadium for Ranji champions Mumbai and the visiting Australian team."

“Then when he went to Chennai, he asked Laxman Sivaramakrishnan to come and go around the wicket, create a rough around that area so that he could practise that slog sweep and the inside-out shot against Shane Warne."

Gavaskar added that there’s nothing with the technique of these two players:

“I don't think there's anything wrong, technically with both of them. I think, they all, you know, got some great deliveries, a couple of shots that Rohit Sharma played, but probably not really on at that stage.”

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s numbers in Australia:

Kohli – 1,352 runs in 13 Tests @54.08, including six tons and four fifties

Rohit – 408 runs in seven Tests @31.38, including three half-centuries