Performing is the only way for Rohit Sharma to escape scrutiny, says Ashwin

As a teammate and a player, India's former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin empathizes with skipper Rohit Sharma. The Indian captain has not been at the top of his form lately, with his struggle to score runs transcending formats. Rohit Sharma-led Team India completed a horrid run in the Test season, where they lost their long-running home streak against New Zealand. Moreover, India also saw their decade-long domination of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy crumble as Australia beat them 3-1 down under. Rohit Sharma, along with former skipper Virat Kohli, stood in the middle of the criticism, amplified by less-than-likable chatter emerging from the camp. Thus, when Sharma tried to shift his focus to ODIs ahead of the India vs England series, the skipper, for the nth time, faced some burning questions about his form.

Rohit Sharma will keep facing harsh questions until he performs again, opines Ravi Ashwin

Despite his now long-running lean patch, Rohit Sharma has time and again appeared confident about his play in interactions. Even when he dropped himself out of the Sydney Test in the BGT, the captain assured that he looked forward to a positive return to the format. However, confidence in interviews is yet to translate into on-field mastery for the Indian skipper. Until the runs start flowing again from his bat, the scrutiny shows no signs of slowing down. With the Tests behind them, India now has the ICC Champions Trophy lying ahead. Moreover, the team has the three-match ODI series against England at home as a prelude to the marquee event. As Sharma prepared for the change in formats, the press grilled him about his form ahead of the first ODI. Only this time, the captain lost his patience as he highlighted how ODIs are a different format.

"What sort of a question is that?" an irritated Rohit retorted. "This is a different format, different time. As usual, as cricketers, we know there will be ups and downs. I have faced that a lot in my career. This is nothing new to me. We know that every day is fresh, and every series is a new one. I am looking forward to the challenge. Not looking at the past. Clearly, you don't. So I don't have any reason to look at the past," he added.

Moreover, the 38-year-old also refused to comment on his future in the game following the ICC Champions Trophy, maintaining the same miffed demeanor. The irritation might have stemmed from the fact that the reporter asked whether the update about the BCCI deciding his future based on the ICC event held any substance.

"How is it relevant that I talk about my future plans sitting here, where there are three ODIs and a Champions Trophy coming in?" Rohit said in reply. "The reports have been going on for a number of years, but I am not here to clarify those reports. My focus is on these games; we will see what happens afterward," he added.

Meanwhile, India's former all-rounder and master spinner Ravichandran Ashwin expressed his two cents on the scrutiny. While Ashwin felt for Rohit, the seasoned player was quick to note that until there's an improvement in performance, he will inevitably be subjected to similar criticism. Ashwin remained understanding of the frustration that the Indian captain is going through, as apparent from his latest interaction. But the spinner reiterated that people will keep raising questions, no matter how harsh. Rohit, meanwhile, has carried his struggling form into the ODIs as well. Opening the chase with debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal, the captain departed for a dismal 2 in the first India vs England ODI.

"This is not easy. If you look at it from Rohit's POV, then obviously, it is frustrating for him. He wants to concentrate on the series. He thinks that I've done well in this format, and I'd like to continue. I'm going into the tournament with a lot of confidence on the back of the one-day tournaments that I've played. But people will ask questions. The ones who are watching will obviously ask. It's a catch-22 situation. You can't stop these questions. When will they stop? When he performs," Ashwin said.