Six or out?

Cricket is a quasi-religion in India. And our pantheon of cricketers is worshipped with a fervour bordering on hysteria.

- SHOBHAA DE

Rohit Sharma, 37, captain of the Indian cricket team, found himself in a spot during the fifth Test in Sydney, after taking a bold, controversial decision—he opted out of a key match. Shocked experts damned him. Others hailed the captain’s call. The jury is still out, with fires raging across the cricketing world.

Sunil Gavaskar was among those who showered unconditional praise. “Leaving out a player is hard enough, but to take a call to leave oneself out has to be the bravest decision taken,” he said, as wild theories swirled around Rohit’s own statement. “I have not retired, I stood down. The bat is not working.” It was a candid, unselfish self-assessment which displayed conviction and character.

But Rohit’s stance did not go down well with former Test cricketers like Sanjay Manjrekar, who reminded him, “Retirement is in your hands…. playing for India is not.” This was seen as a huge warning to a cricketer with many firsts to his name.