Three reasons why Rohit Sharma should retire from Test cricket

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who missed the first test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, has been in the buzz ever since the beginning of the series.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who missed the first test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, has been in the buzz ever since the beginning of the series. The World Cup-winning skipper, who was largely praised earlier in 2024 for having led the Indian side to a World Cup final and then winning a T20 World Cup, has faced serious criticism for his tactical decisions as well as leadership roles alongside his batting performances, which have been under scrutiny. 

The Indian batter has been under the radar since India’s 3-0 loss at home against New Zealand. The disappointing series has also raised discussions about the team’s overall batting depth and approach, placing additional scrutiny on his role within the squad.

Rohit Sharma skipped the first Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth due to the birth of his second child. Jasprit Bumrah stepped up as the stand-in captain in his absence and led the team to an impressive victory. Bumrah’s leadership was widely praised, as ever since then, India has failed to put on a promising show in any of the matches that followed.

3 reasons why Rohit Sharma should retire from Test cricket

Is it time for Rohit Sharma to drop the curtains on his glorious career? (Image Credit: X)

1: Inconsistent Performances

The legendary Indian opener, who has had a decorated career in limited-overs cricket, has never been equally promising while facing the red ball. However, the ongoing WTC marked some solid test performances from Rohit initially under home conditions as he turned into one of India’s leading run-getters before facing a serious dip in form. 

Though Sharma has been a consistent performer, mostly at home, he has often failed to perform in the SENA countries against top-quality bowling attacks. However, as of now, his inconsistency seems to be severely affecting the team’s overall performance in vital matches. 

2: No impact in the leadership role in Tests

Though Rohit Sharma remains only the third Indian skipper to have won an ICC trophy with the side and his captaincy has received widespread recognition in the limited overs format, he has not had an impact in the longest format of the game. 

Sharma has often looked baffled and clueless over decisions to be made when it came to tactical presence for the longest format of the game, and possibly letting go of the role might help him focus on limited-overs cricket and the team to explore other players in a leadership role. 

3: Opportunities for Emerging Players

Undoubtedly, India is one of the biggest powerhouse nations for cricketing talent, and letting go of a player like Rohit Sharma who is in his lows after having relished his decade-long career would only open new doors for such talented players to come in and portray their dominance in the longest format while representing India at the international front.

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