Is Rohit Sharma’s Test Career Nearing Its End?
Social media is buzzing with speculation about Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Test cricket. While some believe his poor form makes stepping down inevitable, others hope the decision won’t come after the IND vs AUS Melbourne Test. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), however, has dismissed these rumors, emphasizing that no decisions will be made until the Border-Gavaskar Trophy concludes.
“There has been no discussion of retirement with Rohit. These are baseless rumors, and we don’t comment on speculation. He’s having a tough phase, but whether to retire is his decision. Right now, our focus is on winning the series,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
Rohit’s Form Under Scrutiny
Rohit Sharma’s recent performances paint a bleak picture. With scores of 3, 10, 6, 3, 11, 18, 8, 0, 52, and 2 in his last 10 Test innings, his current form is far from his usual standards. In the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he has managed just 3, 6, 10, and 3 across four innings, spending only 298 minutes at the crease and facing 203 balls in total.
During the first innings of the Melbourne Test, Rohit, batting in his preferred opening slot, scored just 3 runs off 5 balls, lasting only 10 minutes. His struggles have drawn sharp criticism, including from former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, who questioned India’s decision to disrupt the successful KL Rahul-Yashasvi Jaiswal opening pair to accommodate Rohit.
“When you perform well against Australia, you earn respect. KL Rahul, who has been India’s best batter in this series, was moved from his preferred opening spot just to help Rohit regain form. This approach is flawed, especially after Rohit said he wouldn’t disrupt the Jaiswal-Rahul combination but then did exactly that,” Manjrekar remarked on Star Sports.
The Rohit Sharma Dilemma
As captain, Rohit Sharma’s position in the team is secure for now, despite his form issues. This creates a tricky situation for the Indian team. Dropping Rohit could stabilize the batting order, but as captain, his absence raises leadership concerns. His continued struggles could also disrupt the team’s balance and hurt India’s chances of securing the series.
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Possible Changes if Rohit Steps Down
If Rohit retires or is replaced, India could explore several options to create a more stable lineup:
- KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal could solidify the opening partnership.
- Shubman Gill could return to the No. 3 slot.
- Middle-order options like Dhruv Jurel or Sarfaraz Khan could get a chance.
- Rishabh Pant, though an unconventional choice, could step in as a No. 3 batter.
However, as long as Rohit continues his Test career, these adjustments remain off the table. Whether his performance in the second innings of the Melbourne Test can turn things around might determine if the Border-Gavaskar Trophy becomes his last outing in whites.