The Indian team switched back to the opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal in the fourth Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 Test at the MCG.

Rohit had missed the first Test at Perth’s Optus Stadium where Rahul was able to show his mantle at the top of the order in both innings, forcing the team to make changes and play Sharma down at 6.

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However, the Indian skipper, after failing to impact the games from number 6 decided to come back at the top of the order and move KL to 3, dropping Shubman Gill.

The multiple changes made in the Boxing Day Test and subsequent failure for Sharma in the first innings made former Indian cricketer, Sanjay Manjrekar question the VIP culture in Indian cricket. See what he had to say.

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VIP culture in Indian cricket? Manjrekar questions Rohit for opening at the MCG

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo following the second day of the Test, the former Indian batter, Manjrekar dissected India’s VIP culture and looked disappointed with the management to move the in-form KL Rahul to accommodate Rohit at the top of the order.

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“This is something that happens a lot in the Indian cricket culture. A big-name player just to get him on track, we sacrifice a lesser name. It doesn’t ever make cricketing logic, or is in the best for the team,” said Manjrekar.

“KL Rahul has been India’s most consistent batter [in the series]. He stitched a record partnership in Australia with Yashasvi Jaiswal. Just because Sharma is out of form and is a senior player, to get him back into form and give him something different, you can’t be making these kinds of changes that just reflect poorly on Indian cricket as to what is a priority for Indian cricket,” he emphasized.

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The cricketer turned commentator also remembered the incidents where even Sachin Tendulkar was treated this way and said that India needs to move from this culture.

“It’s happened in the past as well with Tendulkar. It’s time India moved away from, you know, the big-name players. Just clearing up all the space like VIP arrives, so that just wasn’t the right call and KL Rahul didn’t get too affected by it. It was just unfair on him,” he concluded.

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