IND vs AUS: It is safe to say that Rohit Sharma is under tremendous pressure. His batting has been below average and captaincy has raised a few eyebrows as India have lost five of the last six Tests played. With one match remaining in the five-Test series—India's last opportunity to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a win in Sydney—Rohit Sharma is facing intensified speculation about retirement, a first in his career. Reports have surfaced hinting at the possibility of a mid-series retirement, reminiscent of former captain MS Dhoni's decision during the 2014-15 series. Additionally, rumors of a meeting between chief selector Ajit Agarkar and Rohit have fueled the chatter, although the actual situation appears to be different.
According to a Cricbuzz report, the selectors are unwilling to make a decision about Rohit Sharma's future during the ongoing series. If necessary, chief selector Ajit Agarkar will discuss the matter with Rohit after the conclusion of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
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"The situation with Rohit is the proverbial elephant in the room. It is not that the authorities are oblivious to the writing on the wall, but they seem keen to avoid rocking the boat in the middle of an important away series. Despite reports suggesting that Ajit Agarkar has had a conversation with the Indian captain, it is understood that any such discussions will take place only after the series," the report stated.
What this also means is that Rohit is all but confirmed to lead India in the New Year's Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, starting January 3 (Friday).
"Unless Rohit makes the unlikely decision to step aside voluntarily from the SCG XI, he is expected to lead the team in the fifth and final Test, set to begin in a few days," the report added.
Rohit Sharma's recent form a big worry
In the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, Rohit Sharma has struggled, scoring only 31 runs in five innings. Apart from the second innings in Melbourne, where he managed to face 40 balls, Rohit has looked uncomfortable throughout. Neither a move down to No. 6 nor a return to the top order yielded any improvement. His dismissals in the day-night Test in Adelaide and the third Test in Brisbane further highlighted signs of him being past his prime.
Rohit's struggles aren’t limited to the Australia series. He had a disappointing run in the recent home series against New Zealand, scoring just 91 runs in six innings, and managed a mere 42 runs in the series against Bangladesh. Overall, he has accumulated just 164 runs across his last 15 innings, averaging below 11.
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