The India captain Rohit Sharma faced widespread criticism for not only his leadership but also his disappointing performance in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. His struggles have ignited discussions about his future in the format, especially with the Indian team out of contention for a spot in the World Test Championship final. Although Rohit Sharma dismissed retirement speculations during the Sydney Test, a report in a leading daily suggests that the 37 years old cricketer is unlikely to continue his international career beyond the upcoming Champions Trophy.
Speculations about his retirement intensified earlier this month when Rohit Sharma “opted out” of the series decider against Australia. Many believed his final Test appearance had already occurred in Melbourne. However, during an interview on the second day of the match, he clarified his stance, stating, “I’m not going anywhere,” in an effort to shut down the rumuors.
Despite Rohit’s public denial, the BCCI officials reportedly revisited the topic during a review meeting held in Mumbai on Saturday. While the board is not expected to make any drastic decisions before the Champions Trophy next month, a report indicated that his statement did not convince the selectors, who remain concerned about his performance.
Rohit Sharma has managed only 164 runs in his last three series, averaging just over 10, with a lone half-century to his name. His form reached a new low during the Australia tour, where he accumulated merely 31 runs at a miserable average of 6.2, marking the lowest recorded by a touring captain in Australia.
A leading daily reported on Monday that Rohit’s final international appearance is expected to be in the Champions Trophy. Following the ICC event, India’s next major assignment is a five-match Test series in England, which will mark the beginning of the new World Test Championship cycle. The report stated that the possibility of Rohit Sharma participating in the England series is minimal.
Interestingly, the former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist echoed similar sentiments in the latest episode of a podcast, adding further weight to the belief that Rohit’s international career could conclude after the Champions Trophy.
Do you also feel that Rohit Sharma should take retirement after the Champions Trophy?
