Rohit Sharma clarified that his decision to skip the Sydney Test shouldn’t be mistaken for retirement. Speaking to Star Sports during the lunch break on Day 2, Rohit said he voluntarily sat out due to poor form and emphasized that no one can decide his future except him.
“This is not a retirement decision. I’ve seen cricket change quickly, and I know things can turn around,” Rohit said. He addressed media speculation about his future, adding, “People with a mic, pen, or laptop can’t decide when we should retire or captain.”
Rohit, India’s Test and ODI captain, missed the start of the series on paternity leave but joined the squad midway through. After opening in Melbourne alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, his twin failures in that match, combined with India’s loss, raised questions about his form.
Rohit explained that he discussed his decision with the coach and selectors before the final Test. “My bat isn’t scoring runs. This is an important match, and we need players in form. We can’t carry out-of-form players,” he stated.
Rohit’s form has been under scrutiny for a while. He averaged just 13.30 over ten innings during the home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand. His captaincy also came under pressure after India’s 3-0 home-series defeat to New Zealand, their first since 2012-13.
Acknowledging his struggles, Rohit said the decision was tough but necessary. “It was a sensible call. I’m not thinking too far ahead. Right now, I’m focused on what the team needs,” he concluded.
Leave a Reply