Sanjay Manjrekar, former Indian cricketer and prominent commentator, has drawn attention to what he describes as a visible decline in Rohit Sharma’s performance, especially in the months leading up to and following his announcement of retirement from Test cricket. Speaking in a post-match discussion on a sports news channel, Manjrekar said that Rohit’s recent struggles were evident and that the signs of decline had begun well before his decision to step away from the longest format.
Rohit Sharma, who had been leading India across formats, announced his Test retirement following the conclusion of India’s home series earlier this year. While the decision was expected by some given the physical demands of Test cricket, many were surprised by the timing, especially with major overseas tours and the World Test Championship cycle still ongoing.
According to Manjrekar, "It was quite clear for those closely observing that Rohit was finding it difficult to maintain consistency in the Test format. While he still had moments of brilliance, his ability to build long innings was diminishing." He added that the pressures of captaincy and the crowded international schedule may have contributed to the dip in form.
Statistically, Rohit’s Test record over the last 18 months had shown a drop in batting averages and conversion rates. Once known for converting starts into big scores, he had struggled to do so in recent series, particularly in challenging overseas conditions. Manjrekar pointed out that India now faces the dual task of grooming a new Test opener and possibly rethinking their leadership approach in the longest format.
Fans and cricket analysts have had mixed reactions to Manjrekar’s comments. Some agree that it was the right time for Rohit to step aside, allowing younger players to take on more responsibility, while others believe that Rohit’s experience could have been vital during upcoming tough tours.
Rohit Sharma, who continues to lead India in white-ball cricket, has not responded directly to the remarks. However, members of the Indian team management have indicated that player workload management and long-term planning were key factors in the retirement decision.
The BCCI, meanwhile, is yet to announce a permanent successor for the Test captaincy. KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah are among the names being considered, along with Shubman Gill, who has shown leadership potential in domestic cricket and the IPL.
Sanjay Manjrekar’s observations underline the intense scrutiny faced by top-level athletes in India, especially in a sport where performance is constantly measured. As Rohit Sharma continues his role in ODIs and T20Is, the cricketing world will watch closely to see how he adapts to the changes in his career and how India manages the next phase of its Test journey.
