Despite India’s resounding victory in the first Test against Bangladesh, concerns have been raised over the underwhelming performances of skipper Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli. While the team secured a 280-run triumph, the two senior players failed to make a significant impact.
Former India opener Sanjay Manjrekar has questioned whether Rohit and Kohli are receiving preferential treatment based on their reputation. He believes that their absence from the Duleep Trophy, a domestic first-class tournament, has hindered their preparation for the Test series.
“There was the option of picking them in the Duleep Trophy. So one has to be careful about treating certain players differently and do what’s best for Indian cricket and for the player,” Manjrekar said. “Virat and Rohit not playing (Duleep Trophy) was not good for Indian cricket, nor was it good for the two players.”
Manjrekar expressed confidence in Kohli and Rohit’s abilities to regain their form, but he emphasized the need to address the issue of preferential treatment within the Indian cricket team.
“But they have the class and experience to make a comeback later in the series, and I don’t see them, for that reason, not being in form,” he said. “But something that one must make a quiet note of, and that has been a problem with Indian cricket for a long time now, is that certain players get picked out for special treatment because of their status, which eventually hurts that player more than anyone else.”
The Indian team’s success in the first Test was largely due to the standout performances of Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Ravindra Jadeja. However, the struggles of Rohit and Kohli have raised questions about the team’s batting depth and the need for a more consistent performance from its senior players.
