Rohit asking Shastri to occupy middle chair: Was it out of respect or to avoid sitting beside Gavaskar?

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Days after Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma expressed dissatisfaction with Gavaskar’s critical comments about his poor batting form during the Australian tour, this friction was somehow highlighted during the 50th anniversary celebration of Wankhede Stadium that happened on January 19. A video shows Rohit seemingly choosing not to sit next to Gavaskar and instead asking former coach Ravi Shastri to occupy that seat at the function that happened inside the iconic Wankhede stadium.

The video does seem to suggest that Rohit deliberately avoided sitting next to Gavaskar. While the caption tried to frame it as a mark of respect, the body language and context—especially after Gavaskar’s critical comments—make it look more like Rohit didn’t want to sit beside him. It’s interesting how these moments get interpreted differently depending on the perspective. Sources also said that both also shook hands during the event

CricBlogger was first to report how Rohit Sharma had expressed dissatisfaction with former cricketer Gavaskar’s public criticism of his performance during the recent series against Australia. According to sources, Rohit felt that Gavaskar’s remarks were unnecessarily harsh and added undue pressure during a challenging period. Consequently, he reportedly raised this concern with the BCCI.

Gavaskar had speculated that if Rohit’s form didn’t improve, he might consider stepping down from his role as captain, suggesting that selectors might not need to make that decision. This assessment was perceived by Rohit as external pressure that could undermine his confidence.

It’s noteworthy that when Virat Kohli stepped down from Test captaincy, Gavaskar had backed Rohit to take over the leadership in all formats. This context adds complexity to the current situation, as Gavaskar’s earlier support contrasts with his recent criticism. The BCCI has not officially commented on this matter, and it’s unclear what actions, if any, will be taken in response to Rohit’s reported complaint.