New Delhi [India], January 7: Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has raised concerns about the future of India captain Rohit Sharma in Test cricket, following a series of disappointing performances. Gavaskar described Rohit’s decision to “step aside” during the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) as a “brave decision,” acknowledging that the captain seemed “out of his depth” throughout the tour.
Rohit’s journey over the past seven months has been a rollercoaster, from guiding India to their long-awaited ICC trophy win in Barbados to sitting out in Sydney. While he delivered match-winning performances when needed, his transition from white-ball to red-ball cricket has seen his form dip considerably.
Acknowledging his slump, Rohit made the decision to sit out of the final Test, which was critical for India to retain the BGT, in an attempt to give his team the best chance. Despite his absence, India’s batting issues continued, and within three days, India lost the series, raising doubts about Rohit’s future in Test cricket, alongside other senior players.
In his column for The Sydney Morning Herald, Gavaskar wrote, “The skipper, Rohit Sharma, was out of his depth and having taken the brave decision to step aside because of his form, he has also raised big questions about his future in Test cricket.”
Rohit’s struggles were not isolated, as another senior player, Virat Kohli, also endured a rough series, scoring only 190 runs at an average of 23.75 in eight innings. Rohit, on the other hand, managed a mere 31 runs across three Tests. This slump has sparked debate among fans and former cricketers about the future of both players.
India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, weighed in on the situation, emphasizing that any decisions regarding Rohit and Virat’s futures should be in the team’s best interest. He said, “I can’t talk about the future of any player. It’s up to them as well. They still have the hunger, they still have the passion, they are tough people, and hopefully, they can continue to take Indian cricket forward.”
Calls for a change in leadership grew louder after Jasprit Bumrah led the team to a resounding 295-run victory in Perth, in Rohit’s absence. Though Rohit rejoined the squad later and resumed his preparations, his return was lackluster, as he struggled to find the form he had previously enjoyed during India’s historic home series whitewash of New Zealand.
Speculation about Rohit’s potential retirement mounted after India’s Boxing Day Test defeat. Addressing rumors of a rift within the team, Rohit clarified during an interview in Sydney that he was not stepping away from Test cricket permanently. He remarked, “I have stood down from this Test, but I am not going anywhere. This is not a retirement or moving away from the format… Runs are not coming, but there’s no guarantee that you won’t be able to score two months or six months down the line. I’m mature enough to know what I’m doing.”