Exclusive | 'Hundreds came in dead rubbers': As Ajit Agarkar leaves, focus once again turns to Rohit Sharma

For the last one year, Rohit Sharma has gone into every series with growing speculation over his future. After BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia cleared the air on the day the cricket board held a review meeting at its headquarters in Mumbai, it felt like the uncertainty would be kept at arm's length going ahead.

“He (Rohit) is playing superbly in all the matches. So what more (do) you want? In the last match, he scored 138 runs. So why is there speculation? I do not want to give some fodder for the speculators,” Saikia told reporters.

Ajit Agarkar was conspicuous by his absence in that meeting and in hindsight, it was big enough a hint that the chief selector already had decided not to continue. Now, Agarkar is gone — officially after October 4 — and his departure has once again turned the spotlight on Rohit.

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It is widely believed that a fallout over Rohit’s future proved to be a catalyst for Agarkar not to seek another extension. He was given one in June, but the way things panned out in England during India’s ODI series in July, the former all-rounder chose to leave. Agarkar is leaving on his own terms after communicating his decision to the BCCI.

It's a fact that Rohit is still scoring runs. Since October last year, he has scored 727 runs, including two hundreds, in 15 ODIs. His average, 51.92, during this period is higher than his career average of 48.95. The selectors, though, have a different perspective. It's their job to go beyond the hard numbers.

“Look, there’s no doubt that Rohit has scored runs and centuries,” said a source on condition of anonymity. “But if you look at it, those hundreds, in Australia and England, came in dead rubbers when India had already lost the series. It needs to be taken into account whether scoring in the third match of every series contributes handsomely to the team’s cause. Also, Yashasvi Jaiswal is ready and he needs to be given game time in the lead-up to the World Cup.”

So, on the face of it, the selectors had their logic when they informed Rohit of their decision in England. The turn of events after that did not go down well with Agarkar, it is learnt. And then, there was a fitness aspect as well, which prompted the selectors to take the call.

“He (Rohit) is 39, with a question mark over his fitness,” said the source. “Can he convert the ones into twos? Even in the last IPL, he suffered a hamstring injury that saw him miss four matches on the spin. After coming back, he played as an Impact Sub. The next ODI World Cup is still more than a year away. Is there a guarantee that he will last until then? And if, in case, something happens closer to the World Cup, then Jaiswal would be undercooked going into the showpiece event unless he is given the required bedding-in period. Particularly on the fitness issue, the selectors have de-hyphenated Rohit and Virat Kohli.”

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The Rohit backers, too, have been driving home their point from a position of strength. Given the way the former India captain has been performing in tricky conditions, he is well within his rights to aim for the World Cup. Also, in seam-friendly conditions in South Africa, Rohit’s skill set and his experience could be invaluable for the team.

Against this backdrop, the veteran opener is going to play the ODI series against the West Indies that is starting on September 27. Once again, the spotlight will be on him and he will have to make a point with the bat. Yet again, it will be about proving himself, right from the start of the series. Then again, Rohit is a champion who revels under pressure.

As for Agarkar, India won two T20 World Cups, the ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup during his tenure as chief selector. But more than that, he brought a certain gravitas to the position he held.

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