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IND vs AUS: Rohit Sharma, who is often called the brightest star in Indian cricket, is facing intense scrutiny as India battles against Australia in the ongoing Test series. With his future in Test cricket hanging in the balance at 37, the cricketing world asks: Is he being forced out, or is he stepping down voluntarily due to his disappointing form?
Disappointing Runs: Rohit’s Struggles with the Bat in IND vs AUS series
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Rohit Sharma has not really performed up to the mark so far in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series with Australia. After five innings, he has accumulated just 31 runs, while he has usually been one of the dominant batters in the white-ball formats. He was known for being one of those who could thrive against any type of bowling, but this seems to be beyond his capacity while playing in the Australian conditions. It has left him vulnerable to extra bounce and seam movement on Australian pitches, and his usual resilience seems to be lacking.
Certainly not for the first time, he has come under the lens for lack of consistency in Test cricket, but the weight of expectation has been heavier than ever. That he failed to find form in such a high-stakes series only added to the criticism from all quarters. Despite his success in the limited-overs formats, he has often shied away from Test cricket to deliver performances of consistency. This series will be his last, and most likely it might prove to be an early retirement for him in the longest-game format.
Leadership Under the Scanner: Was It a Compulsory Exit?
While Rohit’s batting was already under the scanner, his captaincy has also been questioned. He has taken India to several series wins in the past but his performance here in Australia is questionable. And now, it is doing the rounds that Rohit might be omitted from the playing XI for the Sydney Test. This is likely to happen due to his poor batting form and not on his own wish to retire or step down.
India’s spearhead fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, seems to be coming forward as the natural successor. His leadership qualities have been challenged by this series and India’s success in the first Test with him at the helm has heightened speculations that change is underway. Success in cricket and the possibility of good leadership make Bumrah one of the frontrunners.
Dropping players for poor form is a precedence in Indian cricket
If Rohit is to be taken out of the playing XI or relinquish the captaincy, then it would not be the first such instance in Indian cricket. MS Dhoni and Anil Kumble retired mid-series on account of physical limitations to effectively signal an end to their Test career. However, the situation is distinct with Rohit: He is under pressure not on account of either of these reasons, but due to his poor performance.
Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir has been very vocal about how performance is way more important than reputation. He believes that no player, irrespective of his stature, should be exempt from the selection process on the basis of his form. For Rohit, this puts him at risk of being left out unless he gets back into form soon.
Team Dissatisfaction: The Subtle Unrest
Adding one more layer of complexity to the scenario is discontent in the Indian team. Senior bowler Ravichandran Ashwin has gone into sudden retirement, leaving much specularity as regards discontent in the camp. The combination of the above two made a dark shadow over Rohit’s leadership. When the side needed him badly, the captain faltered in batting and that had serious implications for his leadership to take India ahead.
Many have termed it Rohit’s worst as both a captain and a batsman. Even as India as an overall unit, has had one of its poor series, individual failures have come to define this period. When he does move away from the Test arena – if indeed his 2023 Australia tour comes to mark a farewell to whites – it shall be a memory of a good career gone haywire.
Sydney Test: A Turning Point
The last Test in Sydney is looming large, and along with it the possibility that this could be the last match Rohit Sharma would play for India in Test cricket. If Rohit is not present at the toss on Friday, it would signal that his time in Test cricket may have come to an end. This is the match where India’s hopes of winning the series and getting into the final of the World Test Championship would heavily depend on the outcome. Australia, being one game behind 1-2 in the series, would also be eager to win and qualify for the final against South Africa.
Rohit’s possible absence from the Sydney Test would mark a significant turning point in Indian cricket. The leadership baton would likely pass to Jasprit Bumrah, ushering in a new era for the team. This potential shift reflects not only the changing of the guard but also the evolving dynamics within the squad.
The Road Ahead for Rohit Sharma: A Legacy in Limbo
Rohit Sharma’s career has been a rollercoaster ride full of remarkable highs and crushing lows. He will always be remembered as one of India’s most talented batsmen, particularly in the limited-overs format. However, if his Test career ends prematurely in Sydney, it will be a sobering conclusion for a player whose full potential in the longest format remains largely unrealized.
Whether Rohit decides to step down voluntarily or is dropped due to his lack of form, it seems clear that his time in Indian Test cricket is drawing to a close. The team must now begin to look ahead, and Jasprit Bumrah appears to be the frontrunner to lead India into the future. This transition, though inevitable, is the end of an era for Rohit Sharma and the beginning of a new chapter for Indian cricket.
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