Rohit Sharma 'himself will step down if doesn't score' in last two Tests against Australia

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Dec 18, 2024, 10:12 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

India's Test captain Rohit Sharma's poor run of form has continued in the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar speculates that Rohit might step down as captain if his struggles persist in the remaining Tests. Meanwhile, Cheteshwar Pujara suggests that Rohit's decision to not open may be contributing to his difficulties.

Rohit Sharma 'himself will step down if doesn't score' in last two Tests against Australia

Rohit Sharma (AFP Photo)

India skipper Rohit Sharma's struggle for runs has continued in Australia, and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar believes that Rohit may decide to step down as captain if runs continue to elude him in the last two matches of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in Melbourne and Sydney.
Speaking on ABC Sport, Gavaskar said Rohit won't leave it to the BCCI selectors to take that call.
"I think Rohit obviously will get the opportunity to play in the next couple of matches, that's for sure. But maybe at the end of it, if he hasn't scored runs, my feeling is that he himself will take the call," said Gavaskar.

KL Rahul Press Conference

Rohit has batted in the middle order so far in this series after joining the team from the second Test onwards and allowed KL Rahul to open as he had rediscovered his form at the top of the order.
The skipper has been struggling ever since the Test series at home against New Zealand and Bangladesh before his arrival in Australia. Against Bangladesh, Rohit aggregated just 42 runs in four innings and against New Zealand 91 runs in six innings.

In the ongoing BGT, his knocks so far read 3, 6, and 10.
"He's a very conscientious cricketer, he will not want to be a burden on the team," Gavaskar continued. "He's a cricketer who cares very deeply for Indian cricket. So if he doesn't score runs in the next couple of games, I think he himself will step down."

We as a team are going through transition: Jasprit Bumrah

India's Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara, who was part of the Indian team that won its last two series in Australia, said Rohit has put himself in self-doubt by not playing in position, i.e. an opener, where he is the most comfortable.
"He has been opening the innings, now he's batting at number 6 (in Australia). That is for the team, but I still feel that when you are so much used to opening the innings and when you have to wait, then you put yourself in that doubt. I mean, it doesn't help you when you're opening the innings and you suddenly start batting at number 6," said Pujara while talking on Star Sports.

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article