INDIA should begin preparing for a new Test captain if the team underperforms in their upcoming five-Test series in Australia, as Rohit Sharma may consider retiring from the longest format, according to former Indian captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth.
Rohit, who stepped away from Twenty20 internationals after leading India to their second World Cup title in June, has faced challenges with form and admitted to lapses in his leadership during India’s recent 3-0 home Test loss to New Zealand.
India will head to Australia needing to secure four out of five Test wins to reach the World Test Championship final for the third consecutive time next year. Rohit might miss the opening match in Perth on November 22 due to personal reasons.
"You have to start thinking ahead. If Rohit Sharma doesn't do well, I think he himself will retire from test cricket, for all you know," Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel. "He'll play ODIs only. He has already left T20I cricket. We have to keep in mind that he's also ageing."
In Test cricket, Rohit has scored 4,270 runs at an average of 42.27, but his recent performances have drawn scrutiny. Over his last 10 innings, he has only managed one half-century, with six scores in single digits, and played risky shots at crucial moments in the New Zealand series.
Srikkanth, who also served as a chief selector, commended Rohit for acknowledging his struggles in a press conference. "Hats off to Rohit for accepting the fact that he played badly throughout the series and captained badly. That's a great thing," he said.
Srikkanth believes this openness is a positive step. "Accepting your fault is very important. That's a very important quality of a human being," he noted. "He accepted it openly. That means he's on the road to recovery, that's my opinion."
(With inputs from Reuters)
