Navjot Singh Sidhu and former cricketers expressed their displeasure

Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s poor form remains a topic of discussion. Rohit was kept out of the playing eleven in the fifth Test match against Australia, which created a stir in the cricket world. Former cricketers and experts have raised questions on this decision. Former India opener Navjot Singh Sidhu termed the decision as wrong and described it as a “strange” incident in the history of Indian cricket.

Sidhu expressed his displeasure and gave an example

Navjot Singh Sidhu, while reacting strongly to Rohit Sharma’s exit from the team, cited the example of captains like Mark Taylor and Mohammad Azharuddin. He said that despite the poor form, these captains were not removed from their posts.

• Sidhu’s statement:
  “No captain should be removed midway, nor should he be given the option to sit out. “It gives a wrong signal from the team and the management.”
• The video message said:
  “It is strange and unusual to leave out a great player like Rohit Sharma. Whether the captain’s form is good or bad, he should not be kept out.

This happened for the first time in Indian cricket history

Sidhu described Rohit Sharma’s exclusion as a first in the history of Indian cricket. He said:

• “This is the first time in Indian cricket that a captain has been dropped from the team due to poor form. This is bizarre and unacceptable.”
• He also added that an experienced player like Rohit Sharma should have got more respect and trust from the management.

Rohit Sharma’s poor form and entry of Shubman Gill in his place.

In the fifth Test, Shubman Gill was included in the playing eleven in place of Rohit Sharma.

• Rohit’s performance:
  • Just 31 runs in five innings.
  • Unable to play his familiar shots.
• Shubhman Gill:
  • Young players in great form.
  • In this ‘do or die’ match, the team management expressed confidence in Gill.

Reactions of former cricketers

Other former cricketers also raised questions on the decision to keep Rohit Sharma out:

1. Sourav Ganguly:
   • “Removing the captain on the basis of form can affect the morale of the team.”
2. Virender Sehwag:
   • “It was necessary to back an experienced player like Rohit.”