The cricket world has been buzzing lately, particularly regarding Rohit Sharma’s position as India’s Test captain. His leadership is under scrutiny following the team’s crushing 209-run loss in the World Test Championship Final against Australia at The Oval. Rohit’s decision to bowl first backfired spectacularly, leading to Pat Cummins’s side dominating the Indian team throughout the match.
Despite these concerns, Rohit is currently slated to lead the Indian Test side against the West Indies in a two-match series beginning on July 12th. Yet, there’s a cloud of uncertainty about his future, especially as he approaches his late 30s.
A senior BCCI official has tried to dispel rumours about Rohit’s captaincy being at risk. According to him, the selection committee and other key officials have discussed his future role. Notably, Rohit will turn 38 by the time the next World Test Championship cycle concludes. Consequently, the BCCI is open to considering a change in leadership if Rohit steps down or a more suitable candidate emerges.
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Rohit Sharma may step down as the test captain
The BCCI source spoke to The Hindu, dismissing the speculation around Rohit’s captaincy as baseless. However, they did acknowledge the question of Rohit’s tenure over the next two-year WTC cycle given his age. For now, the BCCI is taking a wait-and-see approach, planning to assess Rohit’s performance and form in the upcoming two Test matches.
After the West Indies series, there’s a gap in the Test cricket schedule until the end of December, when the team travels to South Africa. The source stated that this break will give the selectors ample time to deliberate and make a decision. By then, the selection panel will be complete with the addition of a new chairman, and a decision can be taken.
Rohit was appointed Test captain after Virat Kohli stepped down following the South Africa series in 2022. Since then, Rohit has held his own in the longest format of the game, clinching series wins against Australia and Sri Lanka. To his credit, Rohit has scored 390 runs at an average of 35.45 in seven Test matches as captain.
In conclusion, while Rohit Sharma’s Test captaincy is being questioned, it’s clear that no immediate changes are in the pipeline. It will be interesting to see how the upcoming series against the West Indies impacts the captaincy decision. If Rohit can turn in a strong performance and lead India to victory, it could go a long way toward silencing his critics and securing his position as Test captain.
