Cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar reckoned that the upcoming fifth Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 will be the farewell Test match for Indian captain Rohit Sharma. The 37-year-old batter is currently going through a lean patch of his Test career. In his last in his 26 Test innings, he just scored 619 runs at an average of 24.76.
Gavaskar believes that if Rohit is unable to score in the upcoming Test match in Sydney then he may announce his retirement. The batting great further explained that if India lost the fifth Test then they would be out of the World Test Championship (WTC) final and the next WTC cycle would start from the Test series against England from June 20 next year.
He also suggested the Board members look for new faces for the upcoming five-test match series against England which will be the part of WTC 2027 cycle.
"If he is unable to score, then it is possible. It is possible. Because after this, the chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship final will be less with today's defeat. And the next cycle that will start, the series that will take place in England, the next cycle of the World Test Championship will be the cycle for 2027. So you should see new faces for that" said Gavaskar in exclusive conversation with Sports Tak.
Coming back to the fourth Test, Australia defeated India by 184 runs to take 2-1 lead in the five-Test match series and with that win Pat Cummins & Co. inched closer to confirming their spot for the World Test Championship (WTC) final scheduled to take place in England next year.
On the other hand, Rohit Sharma-led India needs to win the upcoming Test match to stay in the race for the WTC Final set to take place at Lord's Cricket Stadium.