“If I were Rohit Sharma, I would have considered retirement” – Manoj Tiwary Slams BCCI for Removing Rohit Sharma as ODI Captain

Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary has come out strongly against the BCCI’s decision to strip Rohit Sharma of his ODI captaincy, calling it a “clear sign of disrespect” to one of India’s most successful leaders.

“I feel it’s a clear sign of disrespect to Rohit Sharma, considering all that he has done for Team India and Indian cricket. Looking at it that way, this feels like an insult to him. His contributions to the team have been immense. Taking away the captaincy – I honestly can’t find any valid reason for it. When you appoint a captain, what do you expect from him? You expect results. And he has delivered those results” said Tiwary.

In an interview with CricTracker, Tiwary said the move was “truly unfortunate” and “an insult” to Rohit, especially after his remarkable contributions to Indian cricket in recent years. He questioned the logic behind removing a captain who delivered consistent results and major titles.

Under Rohit’s leadership, India won the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy, and also reached the final of the 50-over World Cup. Rohit was named Player of the Match in the Champions Trophy final and remains one of the most decorated IPL players with five trophies.

“He led India to the Champions Trophy, won the T20 World Cup, and came agonizingly close in the 50-over World Cup. As a captain and as a player, his performances speak for themselves – even in the Champions Trophy final, he was the Player of the Match. So yes, it’s very unfortunate. I truly believe he deserved much more respect. The only possible reason I can think of is that whoever is currently running the team wants to have all young players under his own tenure so that he can control the entire narrative, basically”, he added

Tiwary suggested that the decision may have been influenced by cricket administrators who “want only young players under their control.” He implied that experienced stars like Rohit and Virat Kohli are being pushed aside without proper communication or respect.

“If I were Rohit Sharma, I would have considered retirement after this,” Tiwary said. He urged the Indian skipper to step away on his own terms rather than endure what he called unnecessary humiliation. “He should leave with his dignity intact,” he added.

The former Bengal captain also raised concerns about the selectors’ approach, claiming they might be waiting for Rohit to fail in the upcoming Australia series to justify a complete removal from leadership. He questioned the sudden changes in decision-making processes, such as shifting fitness tests from Bangalore to England, calling it a sign of “behind-the-scenes politics.”

Tiwary summed it up by saying the decision sends a harsh message — perform or perish. He believes this treatment is unfair for a player who has given so much to Indian cricket and proven himself time and again as both a leader and performer