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India captain Rohit Sharma has faced growing calls to return to domestic cricket and rediscover his red-ball form after a disappointing series against Australia.
After India’s 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, both former cricketers and fans have expressed concern over Rohit’s commitment to Test cricket. Among them is former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar, who has suggested that Rohit needs to prove his hunger for the longer format by participating in domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy.
Bangar’s message to Rohit
Bangar, speaking on Star Sports, emphasized the importance of leading by example. He pointed out that even experienced players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have returned to the domestic circuit to prove themselves.
“When you are 37, every failure hurts because a cricketer is a very proud person. When you see the kind of performances you have had in the past but cannot replicate them, and when young players perform well, these factors weigh heavily on your mind,” Bangar said.
“He needs to determine if he is still hungry to play Test cricket. If you do, that hunger must be reflected in your actions.”
Pujara and Rahane set an example
Bangar drew comparisons between Rohit and senior batsmen Pujara and Rahane, who were dropped from the national team but showed their commitment by playing domestic cricket.
“There has been a lot of talk about playing domestic cricket. Players like Pujara and Rahane, who are at par with Rohit Sharma in stature, have been dropped in the past but have proven their hunger by playing in domestic cricket. Even today, they are sweating a lot on domestic grounds, which is a big drop compared to the intensity of international cricket,” explained Bangar.
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“If Rohit goes ahead and performs in domestic cricket, no one will be able to stop him. But that form and that hunger must be evident,” he added.
The head coach of the Indian team has also been of the same opinion.
Team management criticized for being reactive
Bangar didn’t stop at Rohit. He also criticized the Indian team management for its reactive approach in team selection during the series. He pointed out that Nitish Reddy’s unexpected performance put the selectors in a dilemma.
“The combination of Nitish Reddy with Washington Sundar or Ravindra Jadeja created confusion. When there is a player in form, it is difficult to drop him. The team management seemed to react as the series progressed rather than being proactive,” Bangar said.
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