Former Indian Test opener Sadagopan Ramesh questioned team management for putting undue pressure on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma after three-match ODI series against England. Ramesh highlighted that England was giving all the freedom to Joe Root but India isn’t doing that for Rohit and Virat.

It was recently reported that Rohit would play his final ODI at Lord’s but the Indian veteran batter answered his critics in style, scoring a majestic knock of 138 runs off 110 balls.

On the other hand, Virat Kohli returned with scores of 65 and 74 in the last two games of the series after managing only five runs in the series opener.

“It is high time the management let Rohit and Virat play with freedom, considering they are still in the top five of the ODI batting rankings. On the other side, see how England allows Joe Root the utmost freedom. They are trying to maximize his returns by allowing him to play with no pressure. England look at Root as a strength, while India, who should be looking at Rohit and Virat as twice the strength, don’t,” Sadagopan Ramesh said on his Instagram handle.

Ramesh added it would be better if the team’s think focuses on real issues within the team rather than put pressure on the veteran duo.

“The Indian management keeps looking at ways to put pressure on these two (Rohit and Kohli), the minute they fail in two or three innings. Rather than looking at this, it would be advisable if the management focuses on the actual issues like the reasons for losing to Ireland or why players fit in the IPL immediately get injured when they play for India,” said Ramesh (via the aforementioned source).

“Focus on things like bringing back a guy immediately from injury, only for him to get injured again. The question also arises on whether other countries, in connection with the IPL, manage injuries to players better than India. They should be looking for answers to these issues rather than questioning Rohit Sharma’s place in the side.

India’s next ODI series is at home against the West Indies.