New Delhi: Indian men’s cricket team captain Rohit Sharma, currently struggling with form, made a significant decision on January 3 to opt out of the ongoing fifth Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Following his decision, rumors circulated about Rohit potentially retiring from Test cricket. However, the 37-year-old right-handed batter clarified his stance in a conversation with former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan on Saturday, providing a crucial update about his Test career future.
Rohit Sharma explained that his decision to sit out of the fifth Test was due to his recent struggles with form. He felt it was the right choice to step back from the match.
Rohit Sharma further added, “Runs are not coming now, but it’s not guaranteed they won’t come in five months. I’ll work hard. People sitting with laptops, pen, and paper don’t decide when retirement comes or the decisions I need to make.”
Rohit Sharma:
The discussion (before the start today) was that there is lot (of assistance for the bowlers) on the wicket and it will be a game of patience. Our batters struggled and we knew it won’t be easy for their batters as well, the challenge is to maintain pressure consistently and we have five wickets in the session. Boys bowled really well and the catching was really good as well. The next session is going to be really crucial, this is what happens in Test cricket. Every session is crucial, we won the previous session hopefully we will win the next session as well. I stood down (talking about the decision to exclude himself from this game) that is what I would say. Basically the chat I had with the coach and selector was simple: I am not in form, it is an important match and we need a player in form. Not thinking too far ahead, right now what the team needs is the priority. I made this decision after we came here (Sydney), it was going on in my mind that it is important for me to step aside because I wasn’t getting runs with the bat. When I arrived in Perth it was quite evident why we won that game, we had that 200-run (opening) partnership in the second innings which is what won us the game. KL Rahul and Jaiswal played really well, and they brought us into situation where we couldn’t lose the game. I don’t believe in what will happen in 6 months or 4 months time, I always stay in the present and think about what needs to be done right now. This is not a retirement decision, I am out of the game because I wasn’t in form. Life changes everyday and I have full belief that things will change. I have to be true to be myself though and be realistic as well. I am sensible, matured and father of 2 kids, so I know what to do when. You need to understand what the team needs, if you do not think about the team, you don’t want those kind of players. We call it a team, so always think about what the team needs. This is my personal thinking and this is how I played my cricket and this is how I am outside cricket as well. I am very transparent as a person. The way he (Bumrah) sets standards with the ball, he is absolute class. When I saw him for the first time in 2013, his graph has gone really high ever since and has gone from strength to strength. Nothing is given in this format of the game, you got to earn it. What happens in leadership is, everyday you will not have a good day. Ideas and mindset can be the same, but sometimes the result won’t work in your favour. We know that a lot of people are going to judge us, but I will never doubt myself. It could be wrong sometimes, but we all go there with a mindset to win. Like yesterday, we should have bowled on that wicket instead of batting, such things happen. I am not going anywhere.
Jatin Sapru – Thank you, Rohit.
Rohit Sharma – Arre bhai, main kidhar bhi nahi ja raha (I’m not going anywhere).
Jatin – Thank you for the interview. #RohitSharma #RohitSharma #INDvsAUS #Captain pic.twitter.com/bQfjQp9AS0
— Mamta Jaipal (@ImMD45) January 4, 2025
India is playing its final match of the WTC cycle and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney, where a victory is crucial to retain the series and keep their hopes alive for the WTC final. Let’s take a look at the captains who have had a better record in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and boast a good success rate.
