"Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma wanted to play more, were deliberately removed by Gautam Gambhir"

Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary criticised head coach Gautam Gambhir following the team's 30-run defeat to South Africa in Kolkata.

Tiwary stated that veteran batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had wanted to continue in Tests but were forced to retire from Test cricket due to a poor team environment.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli shocked the cricketing world when they announced their Test retirements in May 2025, just before India’s tour of England.

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Their sudden decisions triggered speculation. Young batter Shubman Gill took over as India’s new Test captain, with Rishabh Pant appointed as his vice-captain.

Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma Stepped Back Because Of the Atmosphere - Manoj Tiwary Slams Gautam Gambhir

Manoj Tiwary dismissed Gautam Gambhir’s claim that India are going through a “transition phase.” He stated that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were forced to retire despite wanting to continue playing. Tiwary added that the environment created around the team pushed them out.

“This whole “transition phase” talk—I don’t agree with it. India doesn’t need a transition. New Zealand or Zimbabwe need transition. Our domestic cricket is full of talented performers waiting for chances,” Tiwary told India Today.

"Because of this unnecessary transition, our star players—like Virat and Rohit—who wanted to keep playing Test cricket and protect its sanctity, slowly stepped back because of the atmosphere created around them," he added.

You Cannot Blame Players’ Technique After Losing - Manoj Tiwary On Gautam Gambhir

Manoj Tiwary slammed Gautam Gambhir for pointing fingers at the players after the loss in Kolkata. Tiwary said that he should focus on guiding the team rather than questioning their technique. He added that Gambhir should have used his experience to help the squad.

“You cannot blame players' technique after losing. As a coach, your job is to teach, not to blame. If the batters didn’t have solid defence, why weren’t they trained before the match? When he played, Gambhir himself was a good player of spin, so he should teach more. The results aren’t in India’s favour,” he added.

India Under Intense Pressure Ahead Of Second Test In Guwahati

India will enter the second Test in Guwahati under heavy pressure after the defeat in Kolkata. They need a win to avoid a home series loss. With the rank turner at Eden Gardens proving costly, attention has now shifted to the surface they will choose for the decider.

The loss pushed India down to fourth in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings, while South Africa climbed to second after winning the series opener.

Many stated that India miscalculated by demanding a dry, turning track that ended up helping the visiting spinners. Notably, the Men in Blue suffered a 0-3 loss to New Zealand on turning tracks last year.

Gautam Gambhir defended his team by pointing out that the squad is still young and undergoing major changes. Senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R. Ashwin retired from the format soon after Cheteshwar Pujara, Ishant Sharma, and Ajinkya Rahane were phased out.

Also read: Gautam Gambhir’s stunning exchange with Eden Gardens curator goes viral after pitch controversy