Rohit Sharma took over Team India when everything was fine and dandy. Runs were aplenty, bowlers shared the wickets, out-of-form batters returned to their best, and debutants started their Test careers with a victory. Three weeks later, everything has changed. The visitors are no longer on top. Question marks over tactics and selections are being raised. From talks of a 5-0 victory, we are now hearing about a 1-4 defeat.
Rohit Sharma under fire
To blame, there is one man right now, and that’s Rohit Sharma. Whether the criticism is fair or not, the Indian captain has to face it. To many, his return saw a well-functioning team turn into a dysfunctional unit. The captain who not too long ago lifted a T20 World Cup suddenly has forgotten how to lead a team.
Those questioning his leadership perhaps have never realised that captaincy wasn’t his strong suit. Rohit Sharma isn’t known as a master tactician; heck, even Virat Kohli wasn’t great at it either. But what Kohli and Rohit had was a good team and personal runs to back themselves. Those runs have dried for Rohit. Despite his slump, Rohit continues to be India’s highest run accumulator in the World Test Championship, which kicked off in 2019. But this year has been bad. 12 matches played, 5 lost, and an average of 27.13.
Rohit Sharma Test record as batter & captain in 2024
| Matches | Won | Lost | Runs | Average | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 7 | 5 | 597 | 27.13 | 2 | 2 |
This criticism stems from what was India’s worst defeat in the last decade. Losing 0-3 to New Zealand, a first-ever home whitewash in India’s Test history. Many still can’t fathom it happened, and rightfully so, as the Kiwis have since lost their own home series to England.
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Gabba hopes
People want him to pull off a Dhoni, i.e., retire midway through the India vs Australia Test series. These calls may get louder by December 18 if Team India doesn’t win or Rohit Sharma doesn’t get back into runs. There are high hopes of victory anyway. One can’t forget that India is going back to the Gabba. The venue, which saw the most incredible Test heist in 2021.
Team India is going back to the place that gave Washington Sundar’s dog his name. Which created a moment that perhaps can’t ever be created again in Indian cricket. Team India is going back to their happy place, and all eyes will be on Rohit Sharma.
India’s Predicted XI for 3rd Australia Test
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Rohit Sharma (c), Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep
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