Is the journey of Rohit Sharma done as far as Test cricket is concerned with the Indian team? After he took rest from the India vs Australia 5th Test in Sydney (as per the stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah), all these points towards one direction: We may have seen the last of Rohit Sharma in India Test whites. For the first time, Gautam Gambhir, the Indian coach, remained non-committal about the place of Rohit Sharma in India XI Pre-match press conference Thursday morning, lights started gathering pace. By evening, sources had revealed to NDTV that Rohit Sharma would be ‘rested’ following the announcement that Jasprit Bumrah would captain the team. All the rumors were confirmed when on Friday morning.
Rohit Sharma has been among the few Indian captains to be dropped while sitting, on account of form. His pathetic average of 31 runs in five innings in Australia for the BGT has been his real undoing.
While Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Anil Kumble walked into Test retirement mid-series, with their bodies unable to cope with the rigours of the longest format, in Rohit’s case, he is virtually dumped on account of his form after Gambhir made it clear that only performance would keep a player in the dressing room under him.
Rohit has not inspired awe recently through his form-from now, little more than three months will be left for him to turn 38 years old, making another long run appear unlikely. Rohit’s last triple figures came in Tests against England, during March 2024, at Dharamsala. Thereafter, he struck but one fifty and registered 10 single-digit scores in 15 innings.
Between 2013 and the fourth test in Melbourne, Rohit has played 67 Tests, scoring 4301 runs at an average of 40.57. He scored 12 centuries. This average has seen a sharp drop at the beginning of the year from January 1, 2023 to 4th Test Australia in Melbourne, which averaged out to 30.63 in terms of 22 matches and meant a total of 1164, with four tons. From January 1, 2024 to 4th Tests, his average fell down even lower at 24.76 in 14 matches.
Had India played any Test matches immediately following the Tour of Australia, chances were there for the BCCI selectors to give Rohit a last chance. The next Test India plays, however, would be after Rohit turned 38. The fifth and final Test between India and Australia now stretches to five months before the team will again play in the longest format. June 11 is still over a month ahead of India’s next possible Test – the World Test Championship final – for which the team still harbors an outside chance. Australia already leads 2-1 in this series and winning the match will secure their place in the final against South Africa at the historic Lord’s. India, on the other hand, not only need to win in Sydney but also require that Sri Lanka doesn’t lose either of their two home Tests against Pat Cummins’ men.
In case India fails to make it to the WTC final, then the next assignment with the longest format for the team would be the Tour of England comprising five Tests kicking off on June 20. Time and form have both run away, say analysts. Rohit’s journey in whites may have dimmed to its end, too.
