Border Gavaskar Trophy: A tough 2024 year ends for Rohit Sharma

Australia took a commanding 2-1 lead in the ongoing 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy after defeating India by a massive 184-run margin in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The dominant performance, which left India with little chance of a comeback, was driven by Australia’s sharp bowling strategies and India's poor batting displays, particularly from senior players Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma. After setting a daunting target in excess of 300 runs, Australia’s bowlers were relentless, exploiting the conditions at the MCG to full effect. India’s response, however, was disappointing. Kohli and Rohit, who have been key figures for India for years, failed to provide the resistance expected at such a crucial juncture. The inability of India’s senior batsmen to handle the pressure and adapt to the conditions played a pivotal role in their collapse.

Things went drastically wrong for Rohit Sharma in 2024

This loss has all but dashed India’s hopes of winning a Test series in Australia for the first time since their historic triumph in 2018-19. With the series now slipping out of their grasp, India’s chances of reaching the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) final have become even more uncertain. Australia’s performance not only gave them a crucial victory in the series but also made it much harder for India to secure enough points to make a successful bid for the WTC final, adding significant pressure as the series heads into its final two matches.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Kumar Reddy were largely ineffective with the bat in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but the biggest concern for India has been the failure of senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to lead the side. While Kohli did manage a century in the Perth Test, Rohit was absent for that match due to injury. Upon his return, however, the Indian captain’s batting has been a massive disappointment.

At 37 years old, Rohit has struggled throughout the series, managing just 31 runs so far, at an alarming average of 6.20. This dismal run of form has seen the Indian skipper break an unwanted record, as his current average is now the lowest for a visiting captain in Australia. The previous record was held by West Indies’ Courtney Walsh, who averaged 7.75 during the 1996-97 series. Rohit's failure with the bat in this series has raised significant concerns, especially as India faces the prospect of a series loss and a tougher path to the World Test Championship final. For a side with lofty aspirations, the inability of their senior leaders to perform under pressure is a critical issue that needs immediate addressing.

Rohit Sharma has undoubtedly been one of the best modern-day batters, particularly in limited-overs cricket, but his red-ball performances have fallen well short of the high standards he has set for himself. Over his last 15 Test innings, he has scored just 164 runs, averaging a dismal 10.93. This poor run of form is alarming, especially for a player of Rohit’s caliber, and highlights the challenges he’s faced in adapting to the longer format of the game.

When we look at his overall performance in Tests during the 2024 calendar year, Rohit's numbers are equally underwhelming. He has accumulated only 619 runs at an average of 24.76, marking his lowest yearly average in Test cricket. The previous record for his lowest average in a calendar year came back in 2015, when he averaged 25.07 across seven Test matches. Given that he is now in the prime years of his career, this year’s performance has been a stark contrast to the expectations that come with his status as India’s captain and one of their most experienced players.

For someone who has been a match-winner in white-ball cricket, his struggles in the longest format have raised questions. Rohit's inability to deliver when it matters most could have serious ramifications for India’s ambitions in the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy, as well as their hopes for the World Test Championship final. The team will need him to turn around his form quickly if they are to stay competitive.