Former India head coach Ravi Shastri said that he will not be shocked if Rohit Sharma announces his retirement after the Sydney Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Rohit who missed the first Test match against Australia will most likely to miss the fifth Test of the five-match series against Australia which is scheduled to start from January 3 to 7.
Shastri who was the coach of India's Border-Gavaskar Trophy-winning squad admitted the end of Rohit’s career could come quickly.
“He'll take a call on his career but I won't be shocked at all (if Sharma retires) because he's not getting younger,” said Shastri on The ICC Review.
“There are other young players in the wings, there's Shubman Gill, a player of his quality averaging over 40 in the year 2024 and not playing. “It tricks your brain as to what is he doing sitting on the bench and warming it. So I won't be surprised but it's his call. “At the end of the day, if India had qualified for the World Test Championship (Final) or if they still qualify for the World Test Championship Final, then it's another thing altogether. “Otherwise, I think it might just be the opportune time - but (if Sharma plays) he should go out with a blaze of glory.”
Coming back to the five-Test match series, Australia are currently leading 2-1 in the five-Test match series and the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will decide the fortune of the red-ball series against Australia. The upcoming fifth Test match will also decide both teams' fate for the World Test Championship (WTC) final which will take place in England in June. If Australia manages to win the upcoming Test match then they will be WTC finalists alongside South Africa and if India manages to win the Sydney Test then they will be in the race for the WTC final.