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Gautam Gambhir behind Rohit Sharma's captaincy sacking? Manoj Tiwary makes big claim

Akshita Patel

Gautam Gambhir accused of vengeance against Rohit Sharma [Source: @Rajiv1841, @tiwarymanoj/X.com]Gautam Gambhir accused of vengeance against Rohit Sharma [Source: @Rajiv1841, @tiwarymanoj/X.com]

Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary has reignited the debate around Rohit Sharma’s removal as India’s ODI captain, this time pointing fingers at head coach Gautam Gambhir. 

Tiwary believes Gambhir played a behind-the-scenes role in influencing chief selector Ajit Agarkar to take the call, a move he feels disrespected one of India’s most successful captains in recent times. 

Manoj Tiwary fires shots at Gautam Gambhir

In a recent interview, Manoj Tiwary did not mince his words while speaking about the decision-making process. While he acknowledged Ajit Agarkar’s strong personality, he questioned whether the call was truly independent.

“I don't know what the main cause is. But knowing Ajit Agarkar, he is a personality. He is a decision maker. He will not take a step back in taking such steps. But whether he was influenced by someone to fire the gun from his shoulder is something we need to look at,” Tiwary told Sports Today.

He added that big decisions like captaincy changes are never taken in isolation and that both Gautam Gambhir and Agarkar are responsible for Rohit's ouster.

“A lot of things happen behind the scenes, which makes 1+1 2. Maybe the decision was made by the chief selector, and he was very upfront about it. Naturally, the coach’s inputs must be there. You cannot make the decision on your own. Both are equally responsible for whatever decision was made,” he added.

Tiwary says Rohit Sharma 'disrespected’

Not only that, but Manoj Tiwary also spoke emotionally about how Rohit’s exit from ODI captaincy affected him as a fan and former teammate. He admitted he has lost interest in watching India’s 50-over matches since the change.

“See, there has been a lot of inconsistency in picking the playing XI, in my opinion. If I have to be brutally honest with you, I have lost interest in watching the ODI games. The things that have panned out of late, when the T20 World Cup-winning captain and the Champions Trophy-winning captain are removed from the captaincy, and the responsibility is given to the new guy, which I felt was not required.”

Tiwary believes the transition to Shubman Gill could have been handled more smoothly. In his view, Rohit Sharma should have been allowed to continue at least until the New Zealand ODIs before passing on the baton.

The former Bengal batter questioned the logic behind doubting Rohit’s future, especially with the 2027 World Cup in sight.

“I have played with Rohit. We have a connection, so I didn't like how it panned out. I felt it was disrespectful to a cricketer who has given so much to the cricket lovers across the world. From that day, I lost a bit of interest. A lot of controversies, and I feel that is happening because the clarity is not there.”

Gambhir-Agarkar's dynamic again questioned

That being said, Manoj Tiwary’s comments have once again brought the spotlight on the Gautam Gambhir-Ajit Agarkar dynamic and the way leadership changes are being handled in Indian cricket. 

While Shubman Gill’s appointment signals the future, questions remain over whether Rohit Sharma’s exit was rushed and poorly communicated, especially after he led India to the Champions Trophy 2025 titles just months before his removal.

For many fans, the decision still feels abrupt, and Tiwary’s remarks reflect a growing sentiment that one of India’s finest captains deserved a more graceful transition.