Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes Yashasvi Jaiswal was unfairly excluded from the ODI squad for the England tour, especially after he notched up his second century in just three matches. This has raised questions about Rohit Sharma’s future with the Indian team.
Rohit lost the captaincy for ODIs following the Champions Trophy in 2025, but he wants to play until the 2027 ODI World Cup. Nonetheless, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir have not clarified Rohit’s status when asked about it.
Jaiswal made his ODI debut against England last year when Virat Kohli was injured. He seized another chance when Shubman Gill was also injured, scoring his first ODI century against South Africa.
“He has two hundreds in the last three ODIs. Yes, a bit harsh on Yashasvi Jaiswal. If the selectors have picked Rohit for this ODI squad, I hope it’s a long-term decision where they expect him to be part of the 2027 World Cup. That should be the only reason for his inclusion. We don’t want to evaluate Rohit’s performance in the next 18 or 19 ODIs before the World Cup starts. I just hope the selectors have long-term plans with Rohit. Otherwise, that place should have gone to someone else,” said Manjrekar, as reported by the New Indian Express.
Manjrekar noted that making difficult decisions regarding senior players is challenging in Indian Cricket. He emphasized that selectors must clarify Rohit’s role moving forward. Backing Rohit should indicate they see him as a key player for the 2027 ODI World Cup. If not, it brings into question the team’s selection philosophy.
“We have a certain culture that hasn’t changed. When it comes to senior players, decisions aren’t solely based on cricketing performance. This issue clearly affects Rohit and is a recurring issue in Indian cricket. Selectors need to believe whether Rohit can be your opening batter for the 2027 World Cup,” Manjrekar said.
“If that’s what’s in their minds, they should state it clearly. If they’re picking him out of reluctance to drop him, this is a longstanding issue in our cricket culture with big names. For clarity to improve, the whole culture needs to change. We often don’t handle iconic players decisively. Selection should prioritize what’s best for Indian cricket, rather than individual players like Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma,” he added.