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Team India Head Coach Gautam Gambhir on Thursday, January 2 refused to comment on Rohit Sharma’s place in the playing XI for the upcoming fifth Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test, which is set to commence from January 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Gambhir said that a call on India’s playing XI will be taken at toss after assessing the pitch conditions.
After Gambhir’s comment, reports of Rohit Sharma being dropped from the XI surfaced. Moreover, former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri also dropped a big statement, hinting that the 37-year-old might be nearing retirement from Test cricket with the completion of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT).
Ravi Shastri drops BIG statement on Rohit Sharma
Former India cricketer turned commentator, Ravi Shastri said that he wouldn’t surprised if Rohit Sharma rerires from Test cricket. He also opined that if he is selected to play his farewell match, Rohit will play without any baggage. "If I were anywhere near Rohit Sharma, I'd tell him ‘Just go and smash it. Go out there and have a blast’," Shastri said on The ICC Review. "Right now, playing the way he is, it's not looking great. He needs to take the attack to the opposition and see what happens," Shastri added.
"He'll take a call on his career, but I won't be shocked if he retires because he's not getting any younger," Shastri said. "There are young players waiting in the wings, like Shubman Gill, who averages over 40 in 2024. Seeing a player of that quality sitting on the bench makes you wonder. So I wouldn't be surprised, but it's ultimately his decision,” he continued. Shastri also remarked that if India qualifies for WTC Final, it will be a different story. "If India qualifies for the World Test Championship Final, it's a different story. Otherwise, this might be the right time for him to go out with a blaze of glory," Shastri added.
Notably, Rohit Sharma retired from T20Is, captaining India to World Cup silverware in West Indies in June 2024. However, he remains in contention for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, though his recent struggles in red-ball cricket have drawn scrutiny. Across three series he has played so far, including two at home, Rohit Sharma has scored only 164 runs in 15 innings at an average of 10.93. Of these numbers, 31 runs have come in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he has managed only one double-digit score.
