Irfan Pathan, a former Indian cricketer, has claimed that he was forced to praise Rohit Sharma in front of the camera despite not wanting to. He said that Rohit had distanced himself from the Sydney Test. Then, when he went to interview the Indian captain, he was forced to speak positively about him.
The Indian captain was going through a very bad form during the tour of Australia. He withdrew himself from the Sydney Test. There was a lot of discussion in the Indian cricket community.
Speculation started – did Rohit withdraw himself? Or was he forced to leave under pressure from the team? The ‘Hitman’, however, made it clear that he himself did not want to play in the Sydney Test. On which the Indian captain also had a slight disagreement with coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar.
Now Irfan made an explosive comment about that Test. While giving an interview, he said, “Rohit is impeccable in white-ball cricket. But last year in Test cricket, his average was only 6. In my opinion, if Rohit was not the captain, he would not have got a place in the team, that’s true.” Without stopping here, he also said, “People said that we supported Rohit a lot. That’s how it should be. Because we invited him, we have to show him courtesy.”
According to Irfan, since Rohit came to the event at the invitation of the broadcasting company, they were practically obliged to show respect to the Indian captain. That is why they supported Rohit and encouraged him during the event. However, the former cricketer is clear that if he had not been the captain, Rohit would never have got a place in the Test team. Incidentally, Sydney was the last Test of Rohit’s life. The hitman bid farewell to Test cricket a few months after the series ended.
FAQ
What did Irfan Pathan say about praising Rohit Sharma?
Irfan Pathan revealed that he was obliged to praise Rohit Sharma on camera during the Australia tour, even though he personally didn’t want to.
Why was Pathan obliged to praise Rohit?
According to Pathan, the broadcasting company had invited Rohit Sharma to the event, so they felt it necessary to show him respect and speak positively about him.
What was the context of the Sydney Test controversy?
The controversy arose when Rohit Sharma withdrew from the Sydney Test during a poor run of form, leading to speculation about whether it was his own choice or a decision influenced by team management.
Did Pathan criticize Rohit Sharma’s Test performance?
Yes, Pathan mentioned that Rohit’s Test average last year was low, and in his view, if Rohit were not captain, he might not have been selected in the Test team.
Was this Sydney Test Rohit’s last in Test cricket?
Yes, the Sydney Test was Rohit Sharma’s final appearance in Test cricket before he retired from the format a few months later.
