Recently, former Indian off-spinner R. Ashwin shared his strong views on how the Indian cricket management handles its seasoned players, specifically mentioning Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. He highlighted the crucial need for effective ‘knowledge transfer’ (KT) and clear, open communication.
An image captures Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma celebrating with the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup trophy after their final match against South Africa at Kensington Oval on June 29, 2024.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin elaborated, “On one side, you have selection, and on the other, you have Kohli and Rohit. These are two aspects of the same issue. While the selectors are clearly looking to the future with new talent, the way our senior players are managed needs significant improvement.”
He continued, “We have two players approaching the twilight of their illustrious careers. It’s too simplistic to suggest they’ve merely ‘grown old’ and should retire. The abundance of promising young talent shining in the IPL often leads us to think they can easily step into these experienced players’ shoes. However, what frequently gets overlooked is the vital process of robust communication and systematic knowledge transfer. I genuinely hope this crucial aspect is addressed moving forward.”
Ashwin emphasized that ‘knowledge transfer’ isn’t just about teaching new batting techniques. “KT means showing young talents like Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma how to navigate high-pressure scenarios and manage injuries effectively. Given Kohli and Rohit’s exceptional performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup, they have absolutely nothing left to prove. Yet, is there even a structured environment for this kind of KT? Unfortunately, a true transition phase is notably absent in Indian cricket,” he pointed out.
He further illustrated this lack of foresight using coaching examples: “Rahul Dravid served as coach, followed by Gautam Gambhir. There was no clear succession plan, no established ‘template’ indicating Gambhir would take over after Dravid. Consequently, meaningful knowledge transfer from Dravid became impossible. And looking ahead, for whom will Gambhir impart his knowledge? Without a clear roadmap from the management, this vital process simply cannot originate from the players themselves.”
Ashwin concluded with a strong call for proactive engagement: “I sincerely hope these crucial conversations have already occurred with Kohli and Rohit. However, if they are happening only now, why weren’t these discussions initiated during their T20I retirement from the World Cup last year? Had they been informed then, they could have made choices based on the team’s desired direction. This current approach, however, creates a vacuum of information, fueling unnecessary speculation. What is needed is direct, clear, and transparent communication, driven by a forward-looking vision. Anything less leaves players in an incredibly vulnerable position.”