India's regular Test skipper Rohit Sharma on Saturday claimed that he "stood down" from the ongoing fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia due to lack of form but denied that he is anywhere near retiring from Test cricket.
Rohit, who has already quit international T20 cricket, told the broadcasters of the ongoing Test series in an interview that he decided to withdraw from the Test match in Sydney because of his poor form.
This decision is not a retirement decision, nor am I going to take myself out of the game. I sat out of this match because runs are not coming off my bat. There is no guarantee that runs won't come two or five months down the line. I have seen a lot in cricket that life changes every second, every minute, every day.
The 37-year-old also revealed that he communicated his decision to head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar and not the other way around as it is being believed with reports claiming that on the eve of the fifth Test, the selectors told him that they don't see a role for him in the Test team after this series.
The chat that I had with the coach (Gautam Gambhir) and selector (Ajit Agarkar) was very simple, that I was not able to score runs with the bat, and I am not in form. This is an important match, we needed a win. We couldn't carry many out-of-form players, especially with many not being in great form with the bat. It was a simple thing which was going on in my mind – I told them about it and they backed my decision by saying ‘You have been playing for so many years and you are the best person in doing what has to be done'.
Rohit has averaged just 6.2 in three games in this series with scores of 3 & 5 at Adelaide, 10 in Brisbane, and 3 & 9 in Melbourne. Jasprit Bumrah is leading India in the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The India captain described his decision to stand down as a difficult but sensible one considering the circumstances the team was in.
For me, it was a difficult decision to make, but it was a sensible one considering all circumstances and what would be in the best interest of the team. The decision was taken after coming here in Sydney. After Melbourne, there were just a few days and one of them was New Year's Day.
On that day, I did not want to tell the coach and selector about this. But this thought had been running in my mind for some time - like I was trying but could not score. I had to accept it, as it was important for me to step aside from this match.
The 37-year-old from Mumbai had a poor run of form with the bat in the preceding New Zealand series too with scores of 2 & 50 in Bengaluru, 0 & 8 in Pune, and 3 & 6 at the Wankhede Stadium, his home ground in more sense than one as he plays the IPL for Mumbai Indians.
The last of Rohit's 12 centuries in Test cricket came in March 2024 against England at Dharamshala. Since that three-figure score, Rohit has crossed fifty only once in eight Test matches, the 52 he scored against New Zealand at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
While trying to project it as a sensible and pragmatic decision, Rohit has left many questions unanswered about the Indian team management's plans for succession and transition for him and fellow senior batter Virat Kohli.
However, he did say that the youngsters will have to earn their place in the leadership group in the team before hoping to take over as captain. The Indian team for the Sydney Test looked bereft of leadership options on Saturday as Bumrah had to leave the stadium and go for some scans. The 36-year-old Virat Kohli had to take over the responsibility.
It is very difficult to say that (lack of leaders). There are many boys, but I want them to understand the importance of cricket first and also understand the importance of this place. They are new boys, and I know they should be given responsibility. But let them earn it. Let them play some hard-fought cricket for the next few years or whatever it is. Let them earn it.
Like, I am here now. Bumrah is here. Virat (Kohli) was here before him. MS Dhoni was here before him. Everyone has earned it. No one has got it in a plate, and no one should get it like this. Let them work hard.
There is a lot of talent in the boys. But at the same time, I also want to say that it is not easy to become the captain of India. There is pressure, but it is a very great honour. Our history and the way we play cricket have a great responsibility on both shoulders. So let them earn it.
He expressed hope that things will change and he will be back among runs soon. He also claimed that he would be the final authority on his own future as a player and captain.
I have confidence in myself that things can change, but at the same time I have to be realistic as well. So life won't change by what people with a mic, pen, or laptop write or say. They can't decide when we should retire when we should sit out, when we should captain.
Sensible aadmi hoon, mature aadmi hoon, do bachhon ka baap hoon, mere paas thoda sa dimaag hai, aur pataa hai life mei kya chahiye! (I am a sensible man, mature man, father of two kids. So I have some brain and I know what I need in life).
Rohit also said that he has not lost his mojo and lost his touch and leadership ability. He said he was also ready to be judged by experts and armchair critics daily.
In leadership, you will have to accept that you will not have good days every day. Plus, what you do in three months doesn’t go bad suddenly. The ideas and mindset are always the same – the captaincy I was doing five/six/eight months ago, it’s still the same mindset, ideology, thought process, and messaging goes inside.
But when sometimes the result doesn’t come, you would feel that what is he even doing, this or that is waste. We live in India, where 140 crore people are going to judge us – it’s okay, as it’s what it is. But the methods and ideology I have with regards to captaincy, that I don’t want to change.
No one goes with the thought that we wish to lose; everyone has the mindset of winning the match for the team. Here, the crowd involvement is there and we need to shut their mouths – because which team has come here previously and won two Test series.
