“Only low-profile players in Indian cricket get dropped” - Sanjay Manjrekar’s huge statement against team management post BGT 2024-25 loss

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has criticized the team management for protecting the star players even when they get dropped by using terms like 'rested' or 'opted out.' This was seen in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test series against Australia when Shubman Gill missed the penultimate match in Melbourne and skipper Rohit Sharma the finale in Sydney.

Manjrekar pointed out that despite the duo's low returns with the willow, the players and management used terms like 'unfortunate' and 'opted out' instead of 'dropped.' India ultimately lost the best-of-five series by a 1-3 margin, making it six Test losses in their last eight outings.

Talking about the Indian cricket culture of safeguarding star players in his column for Hindustan Times, Manjrekar wrote:

"The Australian cricket culture had once empowered a little-known former cricketer and selector John Inverarity to drop an all-time great Ricky Ponting. He was 'dropped', not ‘rested’. That’s the other trend now unique to India. Gill was not 'dropped' for the Melbourne Test, he was 'unfortunate'. Rohit 'opted out'. Only low profile players in Indian cricket get dropped these days."

He added:

"By sugarcoating the dropping of a player, the team management squanders the opportunity to make a critical statement---that it’s about the value you add on the field and not your brand value. Actually, we don’t realise how impactful the job of a selector is. He can make a far bigger difference to the fortunes of the India team than any coach can, that is if he does his job right. Our media gives the coach far too much attention and importance."

Before the Australian series, India also suffered their first Test series loss at home since 2012-13 when New Zealand upstaged them by a 3-0 margin.

"Australia got better as a team as the series progressed because of some bold selections" - Sanjay Manjrekar

Webster enjoyed a sensational Australian debut in the Sydney Test [Credit: Getty]

In the same column, Sanjay Manjrekar praised Australia's bold moves throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 that ultimately saw them win the series 3-1.

Despite rookie opener Nathan McSweeney's defiance against the new ball and Mitchell Marsh's stature, the hosts were quick to drop the duo for Sam Konstas and Beau Webster for the last two Tests.

"Australia got better as a team as the series progressed because of some bold selections. Nathan McSweeney was dropped after a fighting knock to get Sam Konstas in. Mitchell Marsh was dropped to get Beau Webster. Both selections did wonders to Australia’s chances of winning the series," Manjrekar wrote.

Konstas played a massive role in Australia's fourth Test win in Melbourne with a quickfire 60 (65) in the first innings. He also made crucial contributions in the series finale in Sydney.

Meanwhile, Webster enjoyed a dream debut in the Sydney Test, scoring 57 and 39* to help Australia pull off a six-wicket win.