Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara had dismissed the idea of a “transition phase” after India’s batting collapse on the tough Eden Gardens pitch led to a 30-run defeat against South Africa. The debate resurfaced on Wednesday when former cricketer Manoj Tiwary made a sharp allegation, claiming that constant discussion around “transition” played a role in pushing senior stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma away from Test cricket—even though they were keen to continue.
In an interview, Tiwary said that Indian cricket, backed by a strong domestic system filled with ready talent, does not require a transition-centric narrative. According to him, such conversations created an unnecessary atmosphere that ultimately influenced Kohli and Rohit’s decision to step aside from the longest format.
“This whole idea of a ‘transition phase’ is unnecessary. India doesn’t need a transition—teams like New Zealand or Zimbabwe may. Our domestic cricket is full of performers who are always ready. Because of this forced transition talk, senior players like Virat and Rohit, who wanted to continue playing and uphold the value of Test cricket, gradually stepped back because of the environment created around them,” Tiwary said.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their Test retirements in May, just five days apart, sending shockwaves through Indian cricket. Their exits came weeks before the high-stakes England tour, where Shubman Gill took over as Test captain.
Tiwary also criticised Gautam Gambhir for blaming Indian batters for the loss against South Africa. He argued that Gambhir, known for his expertise against spin, should have guided and prepared the players better instead of pointing fingers after the defeat.
“You can’t question players’ technique after the match. A coach’s responsibility is to guide, not blame. If the team lacked solid defence, why wasn’t that addressed before the game? Gambhir was excellent against spin in his playing days—so the onus was on him to teach and prepare them. The results aren’t favouring India,” he added.
After losing the opening Test to the reigning World Test champions, India will look to level the series in Guwahati. The final match of the series begins November 22 at the Barsapara Stadium, where India aim to prevent South Africa from securing just their second Test series win on Indian soil.