India‘s test captain Rohit Sharma he was conspicuously absent from the playing XI for the fifth and final league test Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 in Sydney. Jasprit Bumrahh, enter as captain, he stated that Rohit had decided to sit out the game in the best interest of the team. However, the omission of Rohit’s name from the official BCCI Test squad list for the match hinted at underlying problems. Rohit’s absence paved the way for Shubman Gill to regain his place in the XI, raising questions about the future of the veteran’s Test career.
Ravi Shastri Prediction: Potential retirement
Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri weighed the situation during An overview of the ICCsuggesting that Rohit may announce his retirement from Test cricket after the current series. Shastri observed, “He will take the call for his career but I won’t be shocked at all if Rohit retires. It’s not getting any younger,”
Shastri highlighted the presence of promising players like Gill, who boasts a stellar average of over 40 in 2024 but was underused during the series. He also emphasized that if India qualifies for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final in England, Rohit might consider retiring.
“There are other young players on the wings, there is Shubman Gill, a player of his quality who averaged over 40 in 2024 and is not playing. Trick your brain what he’s doing is sitting on the bench warming it up. I won’t be surprised, but it’s his decision. At the end of the day, if India qualified for the Test World Cup (final) or if they still qualify for the Test World Cup final, then that is a different matter altogether. Otherwise, I think it might be the right time – but (if Sharma plays) he should go out in a blaze of glory,” Shastri concluded.
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Rohit’s struggles and missed opportunities
Rohit Sharma’s performance in the ongoing series has been below par, fueling speculation about his Test future. In five innings of BGT, the Indian skipper managed to score just 31 runs at a miserable average of 6.20. After missing the opening Test, Rohit failed to produce an impressive innings in the following games. With the team’s qualification for the WTC final hanging in the balance, his absence from the Sydney test comes at a critical time.
India face a must-win situation in the fifth Test to remain in contention for the WTC finals. A win would potentially see India surpass Australia and South Africa in the WTC rankings, while a loss or draw would likely confirm Australia’s place in the finals alongside South Africa. Australia currently lead the five-match series 2-1, putting huge pressure on India to clinch the series in Sydney.
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