India’s Test and ODI captain, Rohit Sharma, has been going through a rough patch with both his batting and leadership.
India’s Test and ODI captain, Rohit Sharma, has been passing through a pretty rough patch of his batting as well as his leadership. Recently, he has not really been able to make an impactful performance. Results have not come out much in his favor; especially the one in Test cricket. Whether it was the home Test series against New Zealand or the high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, Rohit couldn’t live up to expectations on both counts of his game.
At 38, questions have started to creep in about his future in international cricket. Although he had announced his retirement from T20Is last year, he continues to play ODIs and Tests. Amidst all this uncertainty, The Times of India has reported that the BCCI is looking at Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal as the possible successors to the Test captaincy.
Another strong contender is Jasprit Bumrah, but fitness issues may prove a concern for the long term. Shubman Gill has been seen as a future leader, but his Test cricket form hasn’t been too convincing for the selectors, the report added.
“Bumrah’s availability for a whole Test series or a whole season is never guaranteed. The selectors might look for a more reliable option. Gill has been considered a captaincy contender, but his performance in Test cricket hasn’t been up to expectations. Rishabh Pant is a natural choice, and someone like Yashasvi Jaiswal can also be prepared for the job,” a BCCI source was quoted saying.
Rohit is set to return to action in the ODI series against England, beginning on February 6 in Nagpur. Ahead of the match, he was questioned about his recent poor form. Annoyed by the concerns, he dismissed them, emphasizing that ups and downs are part of every cricketer’s journey.
“What kind of question is that? This is a different format and a different time. As cricketers, we are aware that there will always be highs and lows. I have faced many challenges in my career, so this is nothing new to me. Every day is a fresh start, and every series is a new opportunity,” Rohit said before the first ODI against England.
