Published: Oct 07, 2025, 10:17 AM (IST)
Edited: Oct 07, 2025, 10:17 AM (IST)
Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwari has made a big allegation about head coach Gautam Gambhir and also shows concern for the upcoming generation and team. He makes a bold statement that Gambhir is might be the reason for the early retirement of the star players.
He made this controversial statement after the early retirements of the star players like Ravichandran Ashwin, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Ashwin stepped away from the game during India’s tour of Australia last year. However, Rohit and Virat announced their Test retirement in May 2025, before the important Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test series against England. Manoj Tiwari strongly believes that Gambhir’s style might affect the presence of the senior players.
“If the senior players are there, if Ashwin is there, if Rohit is there or if Rohit is there, then these guys have played so much cricket, these guys are established much more than the head coach or the other staff, these guys will raise questions if they don’t agree to a point. You just made sure that these guys are not there, basically,” He said this to InsideSport.
“I have observed that since this coach took on the role, a lot of controversies have arisen. Many things that are happening are not good for Indian cricket. I believe that since the time he has been the head coach, Ashwin has taken a retirement. Rohit and Virat have also done so. Other things have happened, such as players being unexpectedly added to the squad and then being straight into the starting XI. We have seen that Gambhir has not been consistent,” he added.
“I believe the circumstances that have been created, the atmosphere that has been created, the pressure that is there on these players, I believe Rohit and Virat have been outstanding servants of Indian cricket. They have taken Indian cricket to new heights. The players who give their heart and soul, we have seen they have given their everything,” said Tiwary.
“If these players feel that things are affecting their image and they are no longer wanted in the dressing room, then they might consider retiring. I believe they want to play. I think Gambhir won’t take this big a call of not having these two individuals because, in the white-ball format, no one can deny the fact that these two have been outstanding. It would be a really poor decision if Gautam doesn’t include these two in the scheme of things for the World Cup,” he added.
