"How long to play is up to the selectors" - Sanjay Manjrekar shares a thought-provoking post after India's BGT 2024-25 debacle

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar shared an interesting post on his X handle after India's 3-1 loss to Australia in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He opined that while the players have the right to decide when to retire, the decision of how long they can play is ought to be made by the selectors.

There have been question marks over Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's future in Test cricket after both continued their lean run in BGT 2024-25. While Kohli scored 190 runs in nine innings, skipper Rohit managed only 31 runs in five innings. Incidentally, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket after the third Test at The Gabba ended in a draw.

Taking to his official social media handle on Sunday, January 5, Manjrekar shared a somewhat cryptic post and wrote:

"When to retire, is up to the player but how long to play, is up to the selectors."

While Manjrekar did not name anyone, the post seems like an indirect reference at Kohli and Rohit's elongated struggles in red-ball cricket. India's next Test assignment will be in June and it remains to be seen if the selectors retain the veteran duo for the five-match away series. There could also be question marks over all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who is 36.

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"Life won't change by what people with a mic, pen or laptop write or say" - Rohit Sharma on retirement rumors

Amid his poor form with the willow, Indian captain Rohit decided to opt out of the fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney. Following his decision, several reports claimed that the 37-year-old would be retiring from Test cricket after the end of the series. Speaking on Star Sports, though, the Indian captain denied all such claims. Opening up on his move to sit out of the SCG Test, he explained:

"I sat out of this match because runs are not coming off my bat. There is no guarantee runs won't come five or two months down the line. I have seen a lot in cricket that life changes every second, every minute.

"I have confidence in me that things can change, but at the same time I have to be realistic as well. So life won't change by what people with a mic, pen or laptop write or say. They can't decide when we should retire, when we should sit out, when we should captain," he went on to add.

Incidentally, Rohit, Kohli and Jadeja announced their retirements from T20I cricket after the Men in Blue's triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which was held in the West Indies and the United States.