The India vs. Australia semifinal might be the last time Rohit Sharma dons the blue jersey. The captain of the India cricket team has had a tumultuous six months. Having retired from T20Is on a high by winning the 2024 T20 World Cup, the following period hasn’t been kind to him. His failure in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal, could means the India career is over.
Rohit Sharma struggles as India captain of late
In October-November last year, Rohit Sharma became the first-ever Indian captain to suffer a whitewash in Test cricket at home. New Zealand beat the hosts 3-0. Mind you, Team India hadn’t lost a Test series at home in 12 years. 18 consecutive series’ won. One of the most dominant spells by any team in history. The streak was finally broken.
The blame went to Rohit Sharma as expected. The same people who propped him up as the greatest Indian captain in June were tearing him down now. But a bigger challenge awaited him. Because in late November, India was to travel to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT).
Woeful performance and calls for retirement
Rohit Sharma missed the first match due to the birth of his second child, and such was his performance that one felt that he wouldn’t play in the remaining games either. In the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tests of the series, the Indian captain scored 31 runs in 5 innings. Subsequently, he dropped himself for the final match of the tour.
Even before the opener rested himself, there were talks that he should retire. After India failed to retain the BGT after a decade of dominance, many called for him to retire from the format. He shouldn’t be the captain for India’s Test tour of England, which starts in June, was one of the most commonly heard things.
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India vs. Australia semifinal: Rohit Sharma’s last match for India?
Rohit Sharma isn’t getting any younger. He’s 37 already, and his fitness isn’t on the same level as Virat Kohli or Ravindra Jadeja, both of whom retired from T20Is with him. Such woeful form, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) seems to have waited until the ICC Champions Trophy to take a call.
Yes, India is facing Australia in the semifinal, but they are without Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood. There should be no excuse for the Men in Blue to lose to a depleted Australian team. The batter from Mumbai has created some unwanted awards as captain, and this might be the final straw for him.
This 28-run innings in the India vs. Australia semifinal could turn out to be the final match that Rohit Sharma ever plays. If India doesn’t qualify for the ICC Champions Trophy Final, he might very well be asked to retire by the BCCI, with Yashasvi Jaiswal ready to take over as the next great opener. March 3, 2025 could be one of the most important dates for him.
Rohit Sharma Stats for India
| Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | Highest Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 116 | 4301 | 40.57 | 57.05 | 12 | 18 | 212 |
| ODIs | 263 | 11064 | 48.74 | 92.80 | 32 | 57 | 264 |
| T20Is | 151 | 4231 | 32.05 | 140.89 | 5 | 32 | 121* |
