The Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has come under immense scrutiny following his flop show in the Border Gavaskar Trophy down under, both as a batsman and as a captain. Across five innings, the Indian maestro accumulated only 31 runs at a shocking average of 6.8. Even the likes of Bumrah (42), Cummins (159), and Starc (97) managed to accumulate more runs than him in the entirety of the series despite batting not being their primary responsibility. 

Following a string of low scores, Rohit was forced to drop himself for the fifth and final Test in Sydney which India lost by six wickets. Subsequently, India went on to lose the five-match series by 1-3 and lost its hold on the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy in over a decade.

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The clock seems to be ticking for Rohit Sharma as per Gilchrist

India's next red-ball assignment will commence against England this year in June. Former Australian wicketkeeper turned commentator Adam Gilchrist believes that he has seen the last of Rohit Sharma in red-ball cricket. The 53-year-old opines that the swashbuckling opener may not press forward to create a strong case for himself. After becoming a father to a baby boy in December last year, Gilchrist does not see him touring England as he feels that Rohit may have additional responsibilities on his shoulders. 

"I don't see Rohit going to England. I just felt that he says he will assess it when he gets home. I mean, the first thing he will be met with when he gets home is a two-month-old baby that he has to change the nappies on. Now that might incentivise him to go to England. But I don't see him pressing on."

Gilly optimistic about Rohit's white-ball future

Despite Rohit's ongoing struggles in the longest format, Gilchrist remains hopeful to see the best out of him in the ODI format. He reckons that the ace batter could play a key role in the upcoming Champions Trophy whilst also adding that it could be his last appearance in the white-ball arena. 

"I think he'll probably have a crack at the Champions Trophy and that might be...that might see him out."

Although Rohit's record in Test cricket may appear unremarkable, he has been performing exceptionally well in One Day Internationals (ODIs). Since the beginning of 2023, the right-handed batsman has accumulated 1,412 runs over 29 innings, achieving an outstanding average of 52.29 and a commendable strike rate of 119.35. His prospects in the ODI format may largely hinge on his performance in the upcoming Champions Trophy.

The recently concluded five-match BGT Test series (2024-25) turned out to be a horror show for the visiting Indian team as they were annihilated and crushed by the Cummins-led Australia side by 3-1. As a result, India suffered the first series loss to Australia in over a decade and also fell out of the WTC Final race for the first time in its history. Virat and Rohit's waning form with the bat was clearly visible resulting in the inevitable downfall of India in that series. In sharp contrast to their accomplished Test record, the pair finished with a combined batting average of a shocking 8.1 (excluding the Perth Test). 

On the other hand, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir has not escaped scrutiny either. The former Indian opener came under heavy fire for his questionable tactics and for not being able to deliver positive results for Team India. He has had to shoulder a lot of blame for India's poor run in the red-ball format ever since India's humiliating Test series sweep against New Zealand at home. 

But a recently published report hints that the trio is highly likely to get away once again and that the management has no immediate plans to dismiss them for the foreseeable future.

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Gambhir is likely to continue as the head coach, Rohit & VK to remain in the grand scheme of things

As per an IANS report, BCCI is keen to continue with Gautam Gambhir as a head coach beyond the Champions Trophy tournament and all the way till India's next Test assignment which will start in England in June. The report further adds that the head coach can't be sacked solely due to the failure of the entire batting unit. Despite a dismal show in the BGT Test series, Virat and Rohit will continue to retain their spot in the team. 

“Yes, there will be a review meeting but no firing. C’mon, you can’t sack a coach for the batters’ poor show in one series. Gautam Gambhir will remain the coach, and Virat and Rohit will feature in the England series. The focus is Champions Trophy."

India stunned the Aussies in the first Test beating them by a whopping margin of 295 runs but the home side came from behind and won three of the next four Tests to snatch the series 3-1. BCCI is set to hold a review of the recently concluded BGT tour to assess the team's pitfalls and shortcomings but does not mention anything along the lines of taking strict against against the trio.

Gambhir comments about Virat and Rohit's future in Test cricket

Gambhir was questioned about the batting duo's future in Test cricket right after the conclusion of the series. He remained non-committal and indicated that it is left for the senior duo to decide their own future.

“I can’t talk about the future of any player. It is up to them as well. But yes, what I can say is that they still have hunger and passion, they are tough people. Hopefully, they can continue to take Indian cricket forward. But ultimately, as we all know, whatever they plan, it will be in the best interest of Indian cricket."

Gambhir, along with Virat and Rohit have managed to survive a scare after enduring a humiliating Australian tour. However, experts suggest that the clock is ticking and it may not be long before the management decides to adopt stringent measures. The England Test series may well be their last international assignment if they are to redeem themselves. 

India skipper and batting maestro Rohit Sharma struggled big time in the recently concluded five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series where he just averaged a shocking 6.2 with the bat and managed only 31 runs in five innings. His waning dominance with the bat hurt India dearly in the series as they went down by 1-3 to lose the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in over a decade. 

Rohit found it very difficult to get his feet moving against a hostile Aussie pace attack. He never looked in total control of his shots and the lack of confidence was clearly evident throughout the entirety of the series.  Barring this series, his form becomes a particular source of concern when we look at his record in the previous three series. Across the three series he played so far, two of which were at home, Rohit scored at a dismal average of 10.93 and could only manage 164 runs in 15 innings, with one half-century score.

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Rohit Sharma's childhood identifies two big goals before retirement

Rohit's childhood coach, Dinesh Lad explains that the 37-year-old has two unfulfilled goals which he desires to accomplish before his official retirement. He claims that Rohit had the opportunity to hang his boots after India's triumphant T20 World Cup title win in 2024 but chose not to do so. According to Dinesh, Rohit has his eyes set on winning the World Test Championship (WTC) and the ODI World Cup for his country. 

“I think Rohit has only two goals: first, to win the World Test Championship and second, to win the ODI World Cup. If he wanted, he would have retired from all formats (after the T20 World Cup title), but he only retired from T20 cricket."

Under him, India made it to the 2021-2023 WTC Final but were blown away by Australia in a fairly one-sided affair. And following a 1-3 hammering down under, India's chances of making it to their third consecutive WTC final are all but over. Rohit even came mighty close to winning the ODI World Cup in 2023 but were outclassed by Travis Head's masterclass century in the final. However, the 37-year-old remains determined to win the ODI World Cup title in 2027.

What's up next for Rohit and India?

A poor show in Australia has raised doubts on Rohit's future in Test cricket. Time seems to be running out for the batting legend. However, not all is over for the Indian batting legend in the white-ball format. The Mumbai-born batter will lead his side in the home white-ball series against England just before the Champions Trophy. Rohit is also expected to lead the Men in Blue in the marquee event which starts on February 19. 

Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma faced another setback in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne, falling for just 9 runs in the second innings. Despite showing resilience early on, Sharma edged a delivery from Pat Cummins to Mitchell Marsh at gully. This marked Cummins' sixth dismissal of Sharma in Test cricket, further intensifying scrutiny on the Indian skipper.

The 38-year-old batter has endured a tough year, scoring only 619 runs in 26 innings at a subpar average of 24.76. His recent performances have been even more dismal, accumulating just 164 runs in his last 15 innings at an average of 10.93. Fans and critics alike have started questioning whether it’s time for Sharma to step away from Test cricket.

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Fans’ Reactions on Social Media

Social media platforms have been flooded with posts, memes, and trends like ‘Happy Retirement,’ urging Sharma to call it quits. Many fans expressed their disappointment, with some thanking him for his contributions to Indian cricket but pleading for his retirement, saying, “We can’t see you like this; please step away.”

Dear Rohit Sharma, don't let this happen to you, Take retirement gracefully 🥺

Happy Retirement #RohitSharma𓃵#INDvsAUSTest
pic.twitter.com/6mgx1BblsJ

— Veena Jain (@DrJain21) December 30, 2024

One viral post showcased his scores from the last 15 innings, highlighting the alarming drop in his performance:

Rohit Sharma in Last 15 Innings
6, 5, 23, 8, 2, 52, 0, 8, 18, 11, 3, 6, 10, 3, 9

Runs : 164
Average : 10.93
Happy retirement rohit. Thanks for your shitty service#AUSvINDIA #AUSvIND #RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/8wOu135bK8

— Anup Jha (@AnupJha_18) December 30, 2024

The Bigger Dilemma for Selectors

Commentator Harsha Bhogle took to social media to emphasize the tough decisions selectors now face. Without naming Sharma directly, Bhogle stated, “It is always difficult to take a call on a senior player. But can it get more difficult than when the player is the captain? Big call for the selectors in the next couple of days.”

It is always difficult to take a call on a senior player. But can it get more difficult than when the player is the captain? Big call for the selectors in the next couple of days.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 30, 2024

This sentiment resonates as India prepares for the Sydney Test, beginning January 3. The leadership dilemma looms large, with parallels being drawn to Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s unexpected retirement from Test cricket in 2014 and Ravichandran Ashwin’s recent decision to step down.

The Melbourne Debacle

Sharma’s dismissal on Day 5 of the Melbourne Test initiated a dramatic collapse. KL Rahul departed for a duck in the same over, while Virat Kohli threw away his wicket at the stroke of lunch, leaving India at a precarious 33/3 in their pursuit of a daunting 340-run target.

As calls for Rohit Sharma’s retirement grow louder, his fans and critics seem united in their concern. The once-reliable opener and current captain now face a critical juncture in his career. Whether he decides to follow the path of Dhoni and Ashwin or fights to regain form remains to be seen. One thing, however, is clear: the pressure is mounting, and the spotlight will remain firmly on Sharma in the coming days.