Border Gavaskar Trophy: Rohit Sharma retirement coming after Sydney Test?

The Indian cricket team finds itself in a precarious position following a heavy defeat to Australia in the fourth Test in Melbourne on December 30. The loss has significantly dented India’s chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship 2024-25 final, adding to the mounting pressure on the team. India’s struggles in Tests have been evident since their disappointing 3-0 home series loss to New Zealand in October-November, which marked the beginning of a tough run. The defeat in Melbourne has further exposed the cracks in the team’s performance, particularly under the leadership of captain Rohit Sharma. With India failing to win any of their last six Tests under his captaincy, the spotlight has shifted to Rohit’s form with the bat, which has been far from reassuring. The opener has been unable to find his rhythm, with his struggles with the bat becoming increasingly evident over the past few months.

His failure to lead by example has only compounded the team’s difficulties, making his position as captain a topic of speculation. Rohit’s poor run of form, coupled with India’s inability to bounce back from defeats, has put the team under considerable pressure. As India looks to salvage its World Test Championship hopes, much will depend on how they regroup in the upcoming matches. The team faces a critical juncture, with their captain’s form and leadership now under intense scrutiny.

According to The Times of India, the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Sydney could mark the end of Rohit Sharma’s career in red-ball cricket. Speculation about his potential retirement emerged following India’s heavy 184-run defeat to Australia in the fourth Test on Monday, raising questions about his future in the format. Rohit’s struggles with the bat have been evident in recent series. During India’s disappointing 3-0 loss to New Zealand in October-November 2024, he managed just 91 runs in six innings, averaging a meagre 15.16, with only one half-century to show for his efforts. In the ongoing series against Australia, the 37-year-old has continued to falter, scoring a mere 31 runs in five innings, with an average of 6.20 and a highest score of just 10 runs.

These poor performances have put Rohit’s position in the team, and as captain, under increasing scrutiny. If the Sydney Test indeed proves to be his last in the format, it will be a disappointing end to what has otherwise been a distinguished career in limited-overs cricket. However, his ongoing struggles could prompt him to reassess his future in the longest format of the game. India’s only victory in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 came in the first Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth, where, in Rohit Sharma's absence, Jasprit Bumrah captained the side to a strong start to the series. India began their tour with confidence after the win, but the momentum quickly faded in the next match.

The second Test in Adelaide, a Pink Ball encounter, turned into a nightmare for the visitors as they were handed a heavy defeat. The loss highlighted some of the ongoing issues with India’s batting and team combination. The third Test at The Gabba was disrupted by persistent rain, and the match was called off multiple times, sparing India from another defeat. The rain-affected draw allowed the team to avoid further damage, but the series stood at 2-1 in Australia's favour heading into the final Test in Sydney. As the series now reaches its climax, the pressure is on India to bounce back and avoid a series loss. With the final match still to be played, India will need a strong all-round performance to level the series and salvage their pride. The outcome of the Sydney Test will determine the final result of a highly unpredictable series.