Former India selector Sunil Joshi believes critics should stop blaming the BCCI or the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee and instead hold Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma accountable.
Joshi argued that the two senior players should take responsibility for their own preparation, especially in light of recent criticism over their performance against Bangladesh and New Zealand.
Kohli’s performance against New Zealand was notably poor, scoring just 93 runs at an average of 15.50—the lowest for him in a home series in the past seven years. Rohit also struggled, managing only 42 runs in two games against Bangladesh, his worst in a home series in nine years, and 91 runs at an average of 15.16 against New Zealand.
With India’s upcoming tour of Australia seen by many as a make-or-break moment for the two veterans, questions were raised about their absence from the Duleep Trophy, where many of India’s regulars participated as preparation for a packed Test schedule.
In an interview with the Times of India, Joshi emphasized that selectors shouldn’t be held responsible for players’ decisions to skip domestic tournaments, insisting that players must take personal initiative to stay match-ready.
“It’s not all on the BCCI,” Joshi said. “Players need to take responsibility, step up, and say, ‘I’ll play in the Ranji or Duleep Trophy to prepare for the red-ball season.’”
Joshi also stressed that Ranji Trophy cricket should be prioritized for those aiming to maintain India’s high standards in Test cricket. He argued that regular domestic cricket would help players improve their skills, particularly against spin, which has been a point of struggle.
“If top players aren’t scoring against spin, the best way to improve is by playing domestic cricket,” he added.
“Our top six players, in light of the WTC, should consider playing a few domestic games before major Test series. No one is bigger than the game; everyone has ups and downs.”