The differences between Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir turned into a full-blown internal rift, and Ravichandran Ashwin had to pay the price for it, before the former Indian captain was forced to retire and removed from his post.
RevSportz journalist, Rohit Juglan revealed that Ravichandran Ashwin was ready to bid farewell to his Test career after playing his 100th match against England in Dharamsala in March 2024. They had planned to end their Test tour in Dharamsala, but only if MS Dhoni featured in that game.
However, Dhoni could not do so and this changed the script completely. Rohit Sharma, India’s captain in all formats at that time, refused to let Ashwin go. The captain was determined that India’s premier off-spinner should play in Australia for the last time.
Rohit Sharma forces Ravichandran Ashwin to delay his Test retirement leading to differences with Gautam Gambhir
Rohit Sharma personally forced Ashwin to postpone his Test retirement and join the Indian team for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. However, the decision did not suit Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir, who was pushing for a transition phase and wanted fresh faces in the Test setup after taking over as head coach after the T20 World Cup 2024.
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The differences between Rohit and Gambhir reportedly deepened after this episode, leading to a huge rift between the captain and the coach. Their differing views on team selection, leadership style and handling of senior players added fuel to the fire and spoiled the atmosphere in the dressing room.
It is being said that these differences ultimately played a role in Rohit’s removal as India’s Test and ODI captain. The experienced opening batsman was dropped as he retired from the format as younger players were wanted for a more serious approach to the traditional format of the game. Furthermore, Ashwin retires midway through BGT 2024-25.
When Ravichandran Ashwin created history in his 100th Test
It is noteworthy that Ashwin’s performance in his 100th Test in Dharamshala was excellent. The former Indian off-spinner took nine wickets in the match – four in the first innings and five in the second, finishing with combined figures of 9/128 against England.
This was the best bowling figures by any cricketer in his 100th Test, surpassing Muttiah Muralitharan’s record of 9/141. Ashwin etched his name in history as the first bowler to take a five-wicket haul in both his debut and 100th Test.
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Ravichandran Ashwin urges Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to prove commitment ahead of ICC World Cup 2027
Meanwhile, with the ICC World Cup 2027 just two years away, Ravichandran Ashwin has sent a strong message to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. He advised his former teammates to remain active and prove their commitment to the game and the team. Both Virat and Rohit, who have retired from T20 and Test, are now active only in ODIs, but their future in the team remains uncertain.
Ashwin believes that since India will only play a few ODIs before the ICC World Cup 2027, he should participate in India A games and domestic tournaments to stay sharp and show the selectors that he still means business, with the young players pushing for places.
“They should be told, ‘If you don’t play this series, you don’t fit into the plan,'” he said in ‘Aish Ki Baat’.
