India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, faced a tough time with the bat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. He scored only 31 runs across five innings. Moreover, his form had already been poor during the home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand. As a result, India suffered heavy defeats, including a 0-3 loss to New Zealand and a 1-3 loss to Australia.
Rohit Contemplates Retirement
According to the sources, after these string of poor performances, Rohit seriously considered retiring. In fact, there were questions surrounding his future in Test cricket even before the Melbourne Test. Notably, the loss at the MCG became the catalyst for his decision. “Rohit had made up his mind after MCG. Had his well-wishers not forced him to change his mind, we could have seen another retirement in Australia,” a source revealed.
Support from Well-Wishers Changes His Mind
Despite his frustrations, Rohit Sharma received support from close associates, prompting him to reconsider his decision. Although he sat out the final Test in Sydney, this shift in mindset didn’t sit well with head coach Gautam Gambhir, who seemed displeased with the change of heart.
Tensions Between Rohit and Gambhir
Meanwhile, reports suggest ongoing tension between Rohit and Gambhir throughout the series. They disagreed on multiple issues, from team selection to key match-day decisions. Furthermore, Gambhir attending the pre-match press conference before the final Test was unusual, as the captain typically handles this. Additionally, Rohit was absent from the slip cordon during the final training session, further fueling rumors about their strained relationship.
Return to ODIs Amid Tensions
Despite the tensions, both are expected to work together for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England and the Champions Trophy in February.
Rohit’s Poor Test Form and ODI Hopes
Rohit’s Test form in 2024 has been disappointing. In 15 innings across three series, he scored only 164 runs, averaging a meager 10.93. However, he will now hope for a change of fortune in the ODI format, where he is set to open the innings alongside Shubman Gill.
