 "Rohit Sharma will reportedly retire from Tests after the Sydney Test against Australia. AP")
Team India captain Rohit Sharma could reportedly announce is retirement from Test cricket after the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. According to a report in the Times of India, the BCCI top brass and selectors have had conversations with Rohit, with the veteran batter having already made up his mind on his retirement.
Rohit’s stance could change if India reach WTC final
The report adds that while there’s no clarity on the exact time of Rohit’s possible announcement. However, should India qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, Rohit could convince the selectors to keep him in the team. Rohit’s form with the bat has been a cause for concern.
Also Read | Rohit Sharma suffering from a crisis of confidence as much as a crisis of batting form
He missed the first Test in Perth due to the birth of his child, but ever since, the 37-year-old has endured scores of 3,6, 10, 3 and 9 from the next three Tests. He has aggregated just 31 runs from six innings in the series. Rohit finished 2024 with 619 runs from 14 matches at an average of 24.76, including two centuries.
India lost the fourth Test of the five-match series against Australia by 184 runs in Melbourne on Monday. That win allowed the hosts to take a 2-1 lead in the series with one match to go. The fifth Test between the two teams will be played in Sydney from 3 January.
Rohit was far from pleased after India’s heavy loss to Australia in Melbourne and avoided retirement talks during the post-match press conference. “I stand where I am standing today. There is nothing to think about what has happened in the past. Obviously, few results have not gone our way. As a captain, yes, that is disappointing,” he said after the game.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“You know, a lot of the things that I am trying to do is not falling in the place that I would want to. But mentally, look, you know, it is disturbing without a doubt. If you have come here and try and do successfully what you’re supposed to and if those things don’t fall in place, that is a big disappointment. But as of now, that is where it is,” he added.
India’s possible pathway to next year’s WTC final at Lord’s, however, seems complicated now. India are in third place in the WTC standings with a PCT of 52.78, and even if they win the fifth Test against Australia , India will need Sri Lanka to beat Australia 2-0 at home early next year. South Africa have already qualified for the final.