Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar on Thursday backed team India young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal instead of veteran opener Rohit Sharma for the upcoming ODI series against England. Not only asked about the rationale behind Yashasvi’s omission but he also sought clarity on Sharma’s role in the team India’s long-term plans.
Although Rohit retained his place in the squad, Jaiswal was overlooked despite an impressive record in his recent ODI appearances. Manjrekar said the young left-hander had done enough to warrant a longer run in the format and described his exclusion as unfortunate and a bit harsh.
Speaking about Jaiswal’s performances, Manjrekar pointed out that the youngster has scored two centuries in his last three ODI innings, including an unbeaten hundred against Afghanistan and a century against South Africa.
“Anyone opening in India’s strong ODI side will get opportunities, and Yashasvi has made the most of them. So yes, it is unfortunate and a bit harsh,” Manjrekar said.
The former cricketer added that if the selectors have continued to back Rohit Sharma, they should clearly communicate whether the veteran opener remains a key part of India’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup. “If the selectors have picked Rohit, I hope it’s because they genuinely see him as part of the 2027 World Cup plans,” he said.
Manjrekar also argued that selection decisions should be driven by the team’s future requirements rather than the stature of individual players. According to him, Indian cricket has often struggled to move beyond the influence of big names when making selection calls.
“We all know the culture around big-name players. Decisions are rarely as simple as judging on cricketing merit alone. If Rohit is part of the long-term plan, the selectors should say so. But if he is being picked because they are not ready to move on, then it reflects a problem Indian cricket has had for years,” he said.
He further stressed that selection should always prioritize the interests of Indian cricket rather than individual stars, regardless of their stature.
Meanwhile, Manjrekar also expressed confidence in teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who recently earned a place in India’s T20I squad for the tours of Ireland and England. Referring to the youngster’s recent on-field altercation during the India A tour, he said Sooryavanshi appeared mature enough to learn from the experience and handle similar situations better in the future.
The debate over Rohit’s place and Jaiswal’s omission is likely to continue as India begin preparations for the next ODI World Cup cycle, with selectors balancing experience against the need to groom the next generation of players.