'Maybe at the end of it, if he hasn't scored runs, my feeling is...': Sunil Gavaskar predicts Rohit Sharma may leave captaincy ahead of WTC final

IND vs AUS: Rohit Sharma has not been among runs of late and Sunil Gavaskar predicts that if the dry run continues in Australia he will step down as captain.

Sports Tak

• Wed • 18 Dec 2024

Rohit Sharma after losing his wicket; Cricketer-turned-commentator Sunil Gavaskar.

Rohit Sharma, Sunil Gavaskar

Highlights:

Rohit Sharma has scored 19 runs in 3 innings on Australia tour so far.

Rohit's last century came against England earlier this year.

Rohit has not looked settled in the middle order on Australian pitches.

Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar has predicted that if Rohit Sharma fails to score runs in the next two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, he will step down as captain in the format.

“I think Rohit obviously will get the opportunity to play in the next couple of matches, that’s for sure. But maybe at the end of it, if he hasn’t scored runs, my feeling is that he himself will take the call,” Sunil Gavaskar said on ABC Sport.

“He’s a very conscientious cricketer, he will not want to be a burden on the team. He’s a cricketer who cares very deeply for Indian cricket.

“So if he doesn’t score runs in the next couple of games, I think he himself will step down.”

The 37-year-old has struggled in the ongoing 2024-25 season starting with Test series at home against Bangladesh. The opener who shifted to middle order on Australia tour after missing Perth Test has scored 152 runs from last 13 innings. His only half-century during this period came in the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand. In the three innings in the Test series so far, he has scored just 19 runs.

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Karthik wants Rohit to attack

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik also expressed his views on Rohit's struggles. He analysed his dismissals so far and wants him to play attacking cricket to get rid of the pressure.

"I think Rohit will be very disappointed in himself. Even today you could see that he played slightly in front. With Rohit, he has never been someone who lunges forward for the ball but what he does do is play almost close to his front pad. But here you can see that he has gone ahead and what does that tell you? That his form is not as good as he would like it to be. now one thing that he has done well is that attack himself out of pressure in all formats. We all clapped that attacking cricket, especially in white-ball where he was a pioneer of this approach," Karthik said on Cricbuzz.

ALSO READ: Not rain, but Australia's second innings delayed due to this reason; players told to seek shelter at The Gabba early on Day 5

India avoid follow-on

Meanwhile, India managed to avoid follow-on in the ongoing Gabba Test. Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah's 10th wicket partnership helped India post 260 on the board. Australia took an 185-run first innings lead.