Last Updated:
Navjot Singh Sidhu remains critical of India’s approach to not have Rohit Sharma in the side and feels that the skipper should not be given such an option to sit back when the team is in poor form.
Navjot Singh Sidhu (R) was critical of the Indian team’s approach to not have Rohit Sharma (R) for the final Test in Sydney. (Image: AP, Screengrab)
The former Indian cricketer, Navjot Singh Sidhu has slammed the Indian team management and selectors after the captain, Rohit Sharma reportedly opted out of the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia that began on Friday.
Sidhu in a video uploaded on his social media handles, found the move to bench Rohit a ‘bizarre’ move. He mentioned that form does not matter for a player when they have made several contributions to the team.
“It’s strange simply because this has happened for the first time in Indian cricket history that the captain has been benched. If you have made someone the captain and he has contributed to Indian cricket, then questions about his form do not matter,” he said.
The former opening batter was also critical of Rohit stating that the captain does not have the option of sitting out as it would send the wrong signals. He also concluded by saying that a captain would not abandon his team no matter what state it is in.
“The captain should not have the option to opt-out. It sends the wrong signals. I think the management cannot give a captain the option to sit out. It’s not right that the person who has made the team built trust and has been a father figure to the younger players and earned respect,” he commented.
“I think a captain never de-links from his ship even if it is a sinking ship,” he concluded.
Rohit’s form has been a massive concern for the team of late and since the home series victory to New Zealand and now the tour to Australia, he has not been able to find his mojo as a batter nor as a captain.
The Indian team as a result have decided to not go with Rohit in the side and are hoping that under Bumrah’s captaincy, the team can find their best form as they did in the first Test in Perth.
India was bundled out for 185 on the opening day with Rishabh Pant being the top-scorer with 40 runs. But India’s batting looked just as disappointing with the senior stars failing to step up yet again.
Nonetheless, Bumrah will be expected to lead the bowling unit to ensure that they start with the ball strong on Day 2.
