“They Tried to Save Test Cricket”: Ex-Cricketer Alleges Kohli, Rohit Stepped Away from Tests Due to Bad Atmosphere
Manoj Tiwary claims Rohit and Kohli were pushed out of Tests, criticises Gambhir and rejects India’s “transition phase” idea.
Manoj Tiwary has sparked a fresh debate by claiming that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma did not want to retire from Test cricket. He says both were forced to step away because of a poor atmosphere inside the Indian team.
Rohit retired on May 7, 2025. Kohli followed a few days later on May 12, during the IPL. Their sudden exit left India without two of its biggest names right before the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy.
Shubman Gill took over as Test captain and shifted to No. 4, the position Kohli owned for years. India managed to tie the England series 2-2 and then clean sweep West Indies. But the team slipped in Kolkata against South Africa, which led to heavy criticism.
Coach Gautam Gambhir defended the defeat by calling it a transition phase. He said India was adjusting to new roles and new leaders. But Tiwary strongly disagrees.
Tiwary Questions the Transition Talk
Tiwary said India has enough talent and does not need a transition tag. He believes the label created pressure on senior players. He said it pushed Rohit and Kohli to step back even though both wanted to continue.
“This whole transition phase talk, I don’t agree with it. India doesn’t need a transition. New Zealand or Zimbabwe need transition. Our domestic cricket is full of talented performers waiting for chances,” Tiwary told India Today.
He said the atmosphere around the team made things worse. “Because of this unnecessary transition, our star players like Virat and Rohit, who wanted to keep playing Test cricket and protect its sanctity, slowly stepped back because of the atmosphere created around them.”
Tiwary also questioned Gambhir’s coaching style. He said coaches should guide players instead of blaming their technique after a loss.
“You cannot blame players’ technique after losing. As a coach, your job is to teach, not to blame. If the batters didn’t have solid defence, why weren’t they trained before the match? When he played, Gambhir himself was a good player of spin, so he should teach more. The results aren’t in India’s favour,” he said.
The comments add more heat to the ongoing debate around India’s Test setup. With new leaders, shifting roles, and rising criticism, the team faces pressure as it builds for the next big series.
