“Bilkul disturb kiya unhone” - Sanjay Manjrekar slams Rohit Sharma for contradicting statement in BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar criticized Rohit Sharma's decision to promote himself up the order and disrupt the efficient combination of KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal that was set in place for the first three Tests. The skipper's woes continued despite a change in batting position as he perished for just three runs off five deliveries in the first innings of the Boxing Day Test.

Rohit Sharma initially settled into the middle-order after KL Rahul's heroics across both innings in the series opener in Perth. However, after batting failures in Adelaide and Brisbane, India tinkered heavily with their batting unit, in terms of order and personnel.

Rohit Sharma returned to the top, while KL Rahul was pushed down to No.3. Shubman Gill, on the other hand, was dropped altogether as Nitish Kumar Reddy's batting ability was entrusted by the management coupled with the two spin bowling all-rounders in Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar.

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Sanjay Manjrekar pointed out how Rohit Sharma went back on his word after he had assured that the opening combination would remain untouched.

"When you play well against Australia, you are respected a lot. KL Rahul, who has been India's best batter in this series, has scored runs at the top, put on a record stand as well. India moved him out of his preferred position just so that Rohit Sharma can get an opportunity to return to form This is the wrong way of thinking," Sanjay Manjrekar said on Star Sports during commentary

"Press conference mei Rohit Sharma ne kaha thha ki voh disturb nahi karna chahte Yashasvi Jaiswal aur KL Rahul ki joh position hai, lekin jab match ki shuruvaat hui, toh bilkul disturb kiya unhone (Rohit Sharma had said in the press conference that he does not wish to disturb the positions of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. But, when the match began, he certainly disturbed it)," Manjrekar added

Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul put on 43 runs for the second wicket before Pat Cummins castled the latter to conclude the second session on Day 2.

"He probably deserves that place at this point in time" - Rohit Sharma on KL Rahul's spot as opener ahead of the pink ball Test

Prior to the first Test in Perth, KL Rahul was assigned to a role in the middle order after his stint at the top came to an end with the 2023 Border-Gavaskar series in India. He was touted as one of the options to open during Rohit Sharma's absence, with reserve opener Abhimanyu Easwaran also a candidate.

After a gritty display in the series opener, Rahul was given a short run at the top, which came to an early end despite his heroics at The Gabba.

"He (Rahul) will open the innings. I will play somewhere in the middle. Based on what has happened and what KL has shown outside of India, you know, he probably deserves that place at this point in time. And, you know, it is something that has given us success in the first Test, to have that big partnership with Jaiswal on the other side," Rohit Sharma had said ahead of the second Test in Adelaide

The Indian batting unit is holding up well despite the wobble at the top. As of writing, the visitors are placed at 119-2 in the final session of Day 2.

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