New Delhi: Is Rohit Sharma’s Test career over? The speculations was triggered after former India cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri said the Boxing Day Test might have been Rohit Sharma’s final appearance in Test cricket.
This comes after Rohit’s bold call to rest himself for the series finale in Sydney that kicked off on Friday.
The 37-year-old chose to sit out even as the Indian team faced the Australian side, struggling to put up a fight in front of the pacers. Sharma has displayed a dismal performance with only 31 runs in five innings across the three Tests.
“I think it probably means that (if) India don’t qualify for the WTC final, the Melbourne Test will be Rohit Sharma’s last game,” Gavaskar said during the lunch break on day one. “The WTC cycle will start with the England series, and the selectors would likely want someone available for the 2027 final. Whether India gets there or not is another matter, but that’s is what the selection committee is likely to do. We have probably seen Rohit Sharma for the last time in Test cricket,” he added.
Shastri echoed similar sentiment. He predicted that Rohit would “pull the plug” on his Test career after the Border-Gavaskar series.
“At the toss, Jasprit [Bumrah] mentioned it before I could ask,” Shastri said during the match commentary. “He said the captain opted to sit out and said the team would be stronger if Shubman Gill plays,” Shastri added.
“It can happen when you’re out of sorts, you’re mentally not there, you don’t have the runs under your belt. It still is a brave call for a captain to own up and say, ‘I’m prepared to take the bench in this game,'” he added.
With India trailing 1-2 in the series, they must win the final Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India had held the trophy for a decade. India’s victory in this series is also important for it to remain in contention for a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa.
If India fail to qualify, their next Test series will be a tour of England starting mid-June, reported the New India Express.
Was Rohit dropped out of team or he opted out?
Meanwhile, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar praised Rohit’s team-first mindset as he opted out. But he pointed at the lack of clarity around the decision.
So typical of Rohit Sharma. Doing the right thing, doing what’s right for the team. But could not understand the ‘cloak & dagger’ around the issue. Wasn’t even talked about at the toss. 🤔
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) January 2, 2025
“So typical of Rohit Sharma. Doing the right thing, doing what’s right for the team. But could not understand the cloak & dagger’ around the issue. Wasn’t even talked about at the toss,” Manjrekar wrote on X.
Former Australia captain Mark Taylor offered a different perspective. “That’s once again side stepping the point. The bottom line is the captain of a country doesn’t opt out for the final Test match of a series, a final-deciding Test match,” Taylor said on ‘Triple M Cricket’.
“ I don’t know why they don’t just say he’s been dropped.”
Mark Taylor on Rohit Sharma
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) January 3, 2025
“There is not doubt he’s been dropped. They just don’t say it. It doesn’t mean he’s dropped forever. It mean’s he’s missing this Test cause he’s been out of form, it’s not a crime, that’s unfortunately professional sport,” he added.
