Sadagoppan Ramesh, a former Indian opener, blasted the Indian team management for putting too much pressure on veteran batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli following the team's ODI series loss to England.
Following their retirements from the other two forms, the pair have been in the spotlight for the past year because they want to give a try at winning the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Rohit recently made headlines for his back-to-back failures in the first two ODIs against England, with some reports speculating that the England series could be his final hurrah in Indian colors. However, the champion opener answered with a brilliant century in the series finale, temporarily silencing those conversations.
Ramesh, speaking on his Instagram, advised India's management to learn from England's approach to experienced batter Joe Root.
"It is high time the management let Rohit and Virat play with freedom, considering they are still in the top five of the ODI batting rankings. On the other side, see how England allows Joe Root the utmost freedom. They are trying to maximize his returns by allowing him to play with no pressure. England looks at Root as a strength, while India, who should be looking at Rohit and Virat as twice the strength, doesn't," S Ramesh said on Instagram.
Root was the difference between the sides in the recently concluded three-match ODI series, scoring 249 runs with half-centuries in all three matches and winning the Player of the Series award.
Sadagoppan Ramesh suggested that the Indian management turn their attention from Virat Kohli's and Rohit Sharma's positions on the team to the real problems keeping them from succeeding.
"The Indian management keeps looking at ways to put pressure on these two (Rohit and Kohli) the minute they fail in two or three innings. Rather than looking at this, it would be advisable if the management focused on the actual issues, like the reasons for losing to Ireland or why players who fit in the IPL immediately get injured when they play for India.
Focus on things like bringing back a guy immediately from injury, only for him to get injured again. The question also arises on whether other countries, in connection with the IPL, manage injuries to players better than India. They should be looking for answers to these issues rather than questioning Rohit Sharma's place in the side,” Ramesh concluded.
India’s next assignment will be the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, starting July 23.
