Rohit Sharma: Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, former head coach Ravi Shastri and former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar have said in one voice that ‘Boxing Day Test match was probably Rohit Sharma’s last Test match.’ Rohit Sharma has ruled himself out of the fifth and final Test against Australia to be held in Sydney. Jasprit Bumrah was seen captaining for the second time in the series. It was under his captaincy that India won the Perth Test match in BGT.
37 year old Rohit Sharma decided to rest himself in the fifth test. Rohit could score only 31 runs in five innings of three Test matches. Sunil Gavaskar said during the lunch break during the first day’s play, ‘This means that if India does not qualify for the World Test Championship final, the Melbourne Test will be Rohit’s last Test. The new cycle of the World Test Championship will start with the series against England and the selectors will want a player who can also play the final in 2027. Whether India reaches there or not is a matter for later but this will be the thinking of the selection committee. We might have seen Rohit Sharma’s last test match.
In the commentary after the toss presentation, Ravi Shastri said about Rohit Sharma, ‘At the time of the toss, even before I asked, Jasprit Bumrah said that the captain has decided to stay out and said that the team will be stronger with the play of Shubman Gill. . This happens when your runs are not happening and mentally you are not there. It is a very courageous decision of the captain to sit out this match.
India is trailing 1-2 in the series and to retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy, Team India will have to win the Sydney Test at any cost. If the team loses here then all hopes of reaching the WTC final will be lost. India has to play the next Test series in June. Regarding this, Shastri said, ‘If the domestic season continues, he can also consider playing further but I think he will announce his retirement after this Test.’ He is not young and it is not that there is a dearth of youth in India. A very talented player is waiting to join the team. It’s a tough decision but everyone has to make it one day.
Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar praised Rohit’s decision and said, ‘Very Rohit Sharma’s decision. Taking the right decision for the team at the right time but there is not much mystery on this issue. This was not discussed even at the time of the toss.
