Rohit Sharma's batting rut continued on Day 5 of the India versus Australia's fourth Test at the MCG on December 30, Monday. India needed their captain to fire with the bat when Australia handed them a 340-run target to chase on Day 5. But Rohit Sharma's patient start couldn't change his fortune as he returned to the pavilion after scoring just 9 of 40 balls and India ended up losing the Boxing Day Test by 184 runs.
Meanwhile, Rohit finally addressed his ongoing lean patch with the bat in the post-match press conference. He acknowledged shortcomings in both his batting and captaincy, however, remained tight-lipped about his Test retirement.
Speculation surrounding Rohit Sharma's Test future intensified after his twin failures in Melbourne. Social media buzzed with retirement rumors, and his place in the team came under scrutiny. The decision to drop Shubman Gill, a top performer in 2024, further fueled the debate, with critics questioning Rohit's own position in the squad.
Rohit did admit that both his batting and captaincy has been disappointing but subtly hinted at his continued leadership by stating his intention to lead the team in the upcoming New Year's Test in Sydney.
"I stand where I am standing today. There’s nothing to think about what has happened in the past. Obviously, few results haven’t gone our way. As a captain, yes, that is disappointing. Yes, as a batter as well, a lot of things that I am trying to do are not falling into place. But, mentally, it’s disturbing without a doubt. If you have come here, you want to successfully do what you are supposed to. If those things don’t fall in place, that’s a big disappointment," Rohit said in the post-match press conference.
He has scored only 31 runs in six innings in this series and a mere 123 runs in his last six Tests. Rohit's captaincy record has been underwhelming, with no wins in his last six Tests, including a 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand. His personal batting form has also been a concern.
"As of now, that’s where it is. There are things that we, as a team, need to look at, and I personally need to look at as well. We will try and see what happens. There’s a game to go. If that game goes well, it will be 2-2. A draw will be really nice," he added.
Rohit will hope for a win in the final and last Test in Sydney which will be played from January 3, 2025