Rohit Sharma Dropped for Sydney Test, Likely Ending His Test Career
India’s hopes of retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy have taken another hit as skipper Rohit Sharma was dropped for the fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney on Friday. The decision likely signals the end of Rohit’s Test cricket career, though he is expected to continue leading India in ODIs, especially with the home series against England and the Champions Trophy on the horizon.
Rohit, 36, has struggled to find form in the ongoing series, managing only one fifty in his last 15 Test innings, which include 10 single-digit scores. With the team trailing 2-1 and needing a win to keep their slim hopes of making the World Test Championship (WTC) final alive, selectors opted to bring Shubman Gill back to the top order, leaving no place for the struggling captain.
India’s next Test assignment, a five-match series against England in June-July, appears unlikely to feature Rohit, who will be 38 years old by then. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar suggested during commentary that the Melbourne Test could have been Rohit’s last. “We have probably seen Rohit Sharma for the last time in Test cricket,” Gavaskar said.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri echoed the sentiment, stating, “He’s not getting younger. India has very good players waiting in the wings, and it’s time to build. Tough decisions, but there’s a time for everything.”
Rohit’s achievements in limited-overs cricket are unparalleled. He has amassed nearly 11,000 ODI runs at an average of over 49 and remains the only batsman with three double centuries in ODIs, including his record-breaking 264 against Sri Lanka. However, his Test career did not reach the same heights, with an average of 40.57 across 67 matches, and only two of his 12 centuries scored abroad.
Jasprit Bumrah, captaining the team in Sydney, clarified that Rohit had “opted out” of the match, dismissing rumors of discord within the squad. Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who top-scored with 40 in India’s disappointing first-innings total of 185, admitted the decision to drop Rohit was a difficult one.
“Definitely, it was an emotional decision because he’s been captain for a long time,” Pant said. “We see him as a leader of the team… but it was the management’s call.”
As India transitions into a new phase, the decision to move on from Rohit Sharma in Tests marks a significant shift, prioritizing youth and fresh leadership for the challenges ahead.
