Rohit Sharma ‘Deliberately Underperforming’ Under Shubman Gill’s Captaincy? Sunil Gavaskar Reacts To Rift Rumo
Sunil Gavaskar Rubishes Claims Of Rohit Sharma ‘Deliberately Underperforming’ Under Shubman Gill’s Captaincy (AP/PTI)
The three-match ODI series between Australia and India began in Perth on Sunday with a dismal start from India’s star openers. India lost the first match by seven wickets under the DLS method, with Rohit Sharma managing just eight runs and Virat Kohli getting out for a duck. With Shubman Gill taking over as the ODI captain and leading both senior batters for the first time, the match also signalled the start of a new era in Indian cricket.
Social media was ablaze with rumours after Rohit’s poor performance. Some supporters speculated that the veteran right-hander may have deliberately underperformed in order to undermine Gill’s authority as the new captain. Fans worldwide responded to these theories as soon as they became public.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar strongly denied the allegations, emphasising that no player would intentionally play below expectations, as it could jeopardise their spot in the squad.
“In Indian cricket, there’s a persistent myth that a player who loses the captaincy might underperform to undermine the new skipper. Nothing could be further from the truth. If a former captain doesn’t perform, he could be out of the team entirely. No player, regardless of personal feelings, would deliberately throw a game,” Gavaskar wrote in his Sportstar column.
Gavaskar also emphasised how a young skipper like Shubman Gill really benefits from having seasoned players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the team.
The rookie captain may benefit from the coaching and direction the two offer throughout his debut series.
“Questions have been raised about whether Gill can handle two former captains in his team. But he has made it clear that his relationship with Rohit and Virat hasn’t changed with his new role,” Gavaskar added. “In fact, having them around is a bonus. Both are willing to offer advice when needed, and there’s no better support for a debutant captain than two of India’s greatest ODI players by his side.”
