Rohit Sharma May Consider Retiring from Test Cricket After Sydney Match, Predicts Shastri

Sydney, Jan 3 (NationPress) Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has suggested that Rohit Sharma might opt to conclude his Test career after the ongoing fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where he has chosen to take a break. In his place, Jasprit Bumrah is captaining the team, with Shubman Gill joining the playing eleven.

Rohit has recorded an average of just 6.2 runs across the three Tests he participated in, with his highest score being 10. Speculation about his absence from the Sydney match intensified after head coach Gautam Gambhir refrained from confirming him as a definite starter for the game.

Bumrah, who led India to a 295-run victory in Perth while Rohit was on paternity leave, mentioned at the toss that the right-handed opener voluntarily chose not to participate in this crucial match, which India must win to level the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. He emphasized that there was no selfish motive behind this decision.

"It remains a courageous decision for a captain to admit, 'I'm willing to sit out this game.' If a home season were approaching, he might have considered continuing, but I believe he may very well decide to retire at the conclusion of this Test. He is not getting any younger, and it's not as if India lacks talented youngsters. There are numerous excellent players waiting in the wings, and it's time to build for the future. Difficult choices must be made, but there is a time for everything," Shastri remarked on Fox Sports.

If Rohit ultimately chooses to retire from Test cricket, he would depart with a total of 4301 runs in 67 Tests, averaging 40.57 with 12 centuries and 18 fifties. After making a century on his debut in 2013, Rohit experienced fluctuations in his Test career before reviving it as an opener in 2019.

As an opener, Rohit enjoyed a successful spell, accumulating 2697 runs at an average of 42.80, including nine centuries. He also assumed the role of Test captain after Virat Kohli stepped down in early 2022 following a 2-1 series defeat in South Africa.

Parthiv Patel, the former India wicketkeeper-batter, believes Rohit's decision to withdraw from the Sydney Test reflects his selflessness for the team’s welfare. "The key word here is selflessness. If anyone needed proof that Rohit Sharma prioritizes the team above himself, this is it," he stated.

"Clearly, his statistics and form are not in his favor—whether opening the batting or batting at number six. Every effort was made to regain form, yet he couldn't make a significant contribution."

"While some may argue that he chose to rest or was dropped, it’s crucial to recognize that once the captain decides not to participate in a Test match, that individual is involved in the decision-making process."

"In this case, it’s not as if he was dropped; the captain has the discretion—hence, 'opted out' is the appropriate term. For that, Rohit Sharma deserves recognition, as he acknowledged he wasn't performing well enough to secure a spot among the eleven, fifteen, or sixteen players in the squad and chose to step back," he added on Cricbuzz.