New Delhi: Despite Indian skipper Rohit Sharma confirming that he is not thinking about retiring from Test cricket anytime soon, the final call regarding his future reportedly rests in the hands of Ajit Agarkar-led Indian selection committee. Agarkar and the other selectors will have to take the big call on Rohit’s future and decide whether the senior batter should be allowed to continue playing Tests for India despite his disastrous tour of Australia.
Rohit endured a horror outing in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia where he managed only 31 runs in three Tests before being excluded from the playing XI for the 5th and final Test match of the series in Sydney. Rohit was replaced by Jasprit Bumrah as captain but India failed to spark a turnaround as they suffered a six-wicket defeat in the fifth Test to lose the series 3-1.
Amid growing calls for his retirement from the longest format after India’s debacle in Australia, a call on Rohit’s future is likely to be taken by the Agarkar-led selection panel. Despite Rohit claiming that he is going nowhere and will try to bounce back strongly, the BCCI and the selection committee will reportedly not consider his recent comments.
As per a report in Hindustan Times, Devajeet Sakia, who is all set to be appointed as BCCI’s new secretary in the board’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday, January 12, will sit down with the Agarkar-led selection panel to review the Indian team’s performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Rohit’s future in Test cricket will also be a major topic of discussion and the panel will not take into consideration the senior batter’s recent comments about his plans about not retiring from the format anytime soon.
Ajit Agarkar and selectors to decide Rohit’s Test future
As per the report, Agarkar and the other selectors will have to take the difficult call regarding Rohit’s future in Tests and whether the senior batter should be allowed to continue playing the longest format despite his below-par returns over the last few months. Rohit is already 37 and India might have to look beyond him heading into the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
Reacting to Rohit’s claims that he dropped himself from the playing XI for the 5th Test against Australia keeping the team’s interest in mind, a BCCI official stated that it was a last-ditch attempt from the star batter to see if India could find an escape route to somehow qualify for the WTC 2023-25 final after losing the 4th Test in Melbourne.
“Rohit was waiting to see if India could find an escape route to the WTC final. Now, it’s really up to him whether to continue to fight for a spot. But the decision will be down to Ajit Agarkar and his selection committee,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times, on the condition of anonymity.
Many believe its the end of the road for Rohit in Tests and that the senior batter should retire gracefully while he still has time. Bumrah has been deemed as the future captain of the Test team and the experts feels it might be the right time for the star pacer to take over the baton after his impressive show in Australia.
Ajit Agarkar-led Indian selection panel is reportedly set to take the big call on Rohit Sharma’s future for India in Test cricket. It remains to be seen if the Indian skipper will be asked to retire from the longest format. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
