Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin might have set a precedent, besides from having shocked the world, with his decision to retire midway through Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Reports have hinted that his form, apart from issues with his knee, was one of the main reasons for the Tamil Nadu spin wizard to consider hanging up his boots. If there’s one person in Team India right now who needs to follow Ash’s footsteps, then it is none other than an out-of-form Rohit Sharma.
Why Rohit Sharma should follow Ashwin’s footsteps and retire
Ashwin is India’s second best wicket-taker in Tests, with 537 scalps to his name in his 13-year journey with the national team. Considered an asset at home, the TN spinner was arguably one of the best minds produced by Indian cricket and single-handedly won multiple matches for the side with not just performances with the ball, but also with his bat. But, the turning point came after the series whitewash against New Zealand at home, just before IND vs AUS Test series.
Reports claimed that Ashwin was concerned about his dip in form, particularly after the IND vs NZ series where he managed to bag just nine wickets from three Tests. A forward looking Ashwin also might have considered fellow Tamil Nadu all-rounder Washington Sundar as his apt replacement in the national side and hence decided to pave for him, as the culture in the domestic circuit has always been for teams like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
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Rohit Sharma should also take cue from Ashwin and bow out of Tests. There are two main reasons – one is his failure with the bat over the last four years and the second is his poor captaincy record in the past one year.
Rohit Sharma’s form has been on the downside since 2021. His best season in Tests in the last four years came in 2021 when he amassed 906 runs. The following year, he played only a couple of games and understandably only scored 90 runs. In 2023, he scored 545 runs. But what is concerning is his form in 2024. Rohit Sharma has been a part of all the Tests India have played this year barring IND vs AUS 1st Test in Perth. Yet, he has only scored 607 runs while failing to fire consistently.
The Hitman’s scoes of 6, 5, 23, 8, 2, 52, 0, 8, 18, 11, 3, 6 and 10 in his last seven Tests is a worrying sign for India. The team tried a new tactic in IND vs AUS Test series by allowing KL Rahul to open the innings in place of Rohit Sharma while the Indian skipper was asked to return to batting in the middle-order after a span of 6 years. It did not reap any rewards as he only managed to score 19 runs in 2 Tests.
| Year | Mat | Inns | Runs | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11 | 21 | 906 | 47.68 |
| 2022 | 2 | 3 | 90 | 30.00 |
| 2023 | 8 | 13 | 545 | 41.92 |
| 2024 | 13 | 24 | 607 | 26.39 |
India should think about finding a sustainable and suitable replacement for Rohit Sharma immediately and they have a plethora of youn options to choose from. Besides, Rohit Sharma should himself think about moving on and paving way for new talent, especially now that he knows that he is at the twilight of his career. While seniors are much-needed for a smooth transition, Rohit becomes a liability for the team if he continue to be a part of the side despite failures.
A better captain available, so bid goodbye Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma has faced multiple blows more than success as India’s Test captain, more so in the last few years. He became the first Indian skipper to lose a Test series at home in 12 years after losing to New Zealand earlier this year. His captaincy has been questioned in IND vs AUS Test series, especially in the Adelaide Test where Rohit Sharma & co. were handed a 10-wicket thrashing.
India do have a senior who can be an apt replacement for Rohit in the form of vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah. The premium pacer has a decent record as skipper, having won once and lost once on the two occasions that he has led the team. In Perth, he led India from the front to clinch a mammoth 295-run win in IND vs AUS 1st Test. He could very well do justice should he be called up to fill in the shoes of the Hitman.
Rohit Sharma’s recent failures as a batter and captain must be taken seriously by the veteran and he must take a call on his career soon. At least for India’s good. And rightfully so, he must follow Ashwin’s footsteps and bid goodbye to Test cricket for the betterment of India.
