Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has made a bold prediction regarding Rohit Sharma’s future as captain of the Indian Test team. Speaking during Day 5 of the Gabba Test in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Gavaskar suggested that the under-fire skipper might voluntarily step down at the end of the Australia tour if his struggles with the bat continue.
Rohit’s Struggles with Form
The 37-year-old opener has been enduring one of the leanest patches of his career. In his last 13 Test innings, Rohit has managed just 152 runs at a dismal average of 11.83, with only a solitary half-century to his name. His poor performances against Bangladesh and New Zealand at home drew criticism, and the struggles followed him to Australia.
In the ongoing series, Rohit has scored only 19 runs across three innings, batting at No. 6 after being moved down the order to accommodate KL Rahul as the opener. His dismissal to Pat Cummins in the Brisbane Test sparked further scrutiny, with fans speculating about his future after he left his gloves in front of the dugout post-dismissal—a gesture that fueled rumors of his potential retirement.
Gavaskar’s Insight on Rohit’s Future
Gavaskar, speaking to ABC Sport, said that Rohit is unlikely to wait for the selectors to make a decision on his captaincy. Instead, he believes that the veteran batter might take the initiative and step down if his form does not improve in the remaining two matches in Melbourne and Sydney.
“I believe Rohit will get the opportunity to play in the next couple of matches. But if he doesn’t score runs, I feel he will take the call himself,” Gavaskar said.
“He’s a very thoughtful and conscientious cricketer who cares deeply for Indian cricket. He would never want to become a burden on the team. If he continues to struggle, I think he will step down from the captaincy on his own terms.”
Mounting Pressure Amid Lean Patch
Rohit’s recent form has led to mounting pressure on his leadership and place in the team. The decision to move him down the batting order has yet to yield results, and questions are being raised about his ability to lead from the front, especially when India faces challenging opponents overseas.
As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy heads into its crucial phase, Rohit will have to silence his critics with impactful performances. Whether he can turn his fortunes around or make a difficult decision for the team’s betterment remains to be seen.
