Manjrekar blasts Jaiswal's snub, asks management to prioritise team over Rohit in India's ODI World Cup blueprint

Former Indian cricketer turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has openly criticised the selectors' decision to drop star opener Yashasvi Jaiswal from India's ODI squad for the upcoming tour of England. The exclusion comes as a shock to many, especially considering the left-hander's sensational form, having plundered two magnificent tons in his last three appearances in the fifty-over format.

Manjrekar questions Rohit's role and Jaiswal's omission

Jaiswal was initially sidelined from the national team's blueprint during the home ODI series against Afghanistan. He only found a spot in the playing XI after batting maestro Virat Kohli was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Capitalizing on the sudden opportunity, the explosive opener grabbed the chance with both hands, hammering a brilliant century in the series finale at Chennai.

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That knock marked Jaiswal's second ODI century in mere six appearances. He had previously announced his arrival in the format in December last year, smashing a dominant, unbeaten 116 against South Africa in Vizag. Despite this incredible track record, Kohli’s return to fitness meant Jaiswal was completely squeezed out of the touring party traveling to England—a selection call that Manjrekar labeled as incredibly harsh.

"Yashasvi has scored two hundreds in his last three ODIs. He made 116 not out against South Africa, then after a gap scored four and a hundred," Manjrekar told TOI.

He emphasised that while anyone opening for a powerhouse like India will get chances, Jaiswal has maximized his opportunities perfectly, making his sudden drop highly unfortunate.

Prioritizing the 2027 ODI World Cup blueprint

The veteran commentator didn't stop there, using the controversial selection to pivot to a much larger debate regarding skipper Rohit's longevity. Manjrekar explicitly questioned India's long-term strategy, stating that if the decision-makers are continuing to pick Rohit, it must be because they firmly expect him to lead the charge at the 2027 World Cup. Otherwise, he argued, that precious top-order spot should be actively utilized to groom future stars like Jaiswal.

Manjrekar heavily blasted the traditional mindset surrounding selection, urging decision-makers to prioritize the long-term future of the national team over the sheer reputation of its iconic stars. He pointed out that in Indian cricket, choices involving legendary figures are rarely based entirely on pure athletic merit, hinting that the management appears to be handling Rohit Sharma with a similar level of caution. Manjrekar argued that if the selection committee genuinely considers Rohit a foundational piece for the upcoming years, they need to explicitly clarify that vision.

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The former batter warned that if Rohit's continued inclusion is simply a result of the selectors being hesitant to transition away from him, it exposes a deep-seated, systemic flaw that has plagued the country's cricketing ecosystem for generations. He concluded with a firm reminder that national selection should never revolve around accommodating the desires or career longevity of individuals like Rohit, Virat Kohli, or Jasprit Bumrah. Instead, every single squad choice must be driven solely by what serves the absolute best interests of Indian cricket.

“If the selectors have picked Rohit, I hope it’s because they genuinely see him as part of the 2027 World Cup plans. Otherwise, that place should have gone to somebody else," he added.

Rohit, a proven performer

While there are valid arguments for moving past Rohit Sharma in the fifty-over format, his recent outputs demonstrate that he remains in excellent batting form. Now dedicating his international career exclusively to ODIs, the veteran skipper delivered a strong performance in the recently concluded three-match series against Afghanistan. This follows a highly productive run in Australia last year, where he showcased his enduring class by plundering over 200 runs across a three-match rubber.

Hitman's looming injury concern

However, despite these highly encouraging signs with the bat, Rohit's career has been frequently disrupted by a history of troublesome hamstring injuries. This recurring physical vulnerability remains a primary concern for the Indian selection committee, who will undoubtedly continue to monitor his workload and physical conditioning with immense scrutiny as major tournaments approach. Ultimately, the primary challenge facing the captain is the inevitable reality of aging in professional sports. As an athlete enters the twilight of their career, both the media and management examine their performances and fitness levels with far greater intensity, meaning Rohit will need to maintain peak physical standards to justify his spot in the long-term blueprint.