Shastri predicts Rohit to retire from Test cricket
The 37-year-old opener has endured a poor series, and speculation over his future intensified when he failed to attend India’s pre-match press conference.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri said on Friday he expects skipper Rohit Sharma to "pull the plug" on his Test career after being omitted from the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney.
The 37-year-old opener has endured a poor series, and speculation over his future intensified when he failed to attend India's pre-match press conference.
Instead, coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the media but declined to publicly back Rohit.
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Stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah claimed at the coin toss that Rohit had "opted to rest" for the benefit of the team, dismissing suggestions that he was dropped.
However, Shastri believes this signals the end of Rohit's 67-Test career and expects a retirement announcement after the match.
"It still is a brave call for a captain to own up and say, 'I'm prepared to take the bench in this game,'" Shastri remarked while commentating on Fox Sports.
"If there was a home season coming up he might've thought of carrying on, but I think he might just pull the plug at the end of this Test.
"It's not that India don't have youngsters. There are very, very good players in the wings and it's time to build.
"Tough decisions, but there is a time for everything."
Recent Struggles
Rohit retired from T20 internationals last year after leading India to the World Cup title, but he has yet to step away from one-day internationals.
He missed the opening Test in Perth for the birth of his second child and has struggled for form ever since, failing to reach double figures in any of his five innings in the series.
This poor form follows a disappointing performance during India's 3-0 home series defeat to New Zealand in October-November.
"Our captain has shown his leadership, he's opted to rest in this game," Bumrah said at the toss.
"So that shows there's a lot of unity in our team, there's no selfishness, whatever is in the team's best interest, we are looking to do that."
End of an Era?
If Rohit announces his retirement, it would mark the second high-profile departure of the series. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin headed home after the third Test in Brisbane, reportedly frustrated by his non-selection for that match.
For India, the focus now turns to nurturing their next generation of talent, with Shastri confident that the future is bright for Indian cricket.
