Rohit Sharma’s decision to retire from Test cricket may have surprised many fans, but not Adam Gilchrist, the former Australian cricketer who once captained him in the IPL with Deccan Chargers back in 2008. While the cricketing world is still discussing why Rohit made this choice, Gilchrist said he had a feeling it was coming, especially during the Sydney Test, where Rohit dropped himself from the playing XI.
Recent form, the reason?
Rohit’s recent form in Test cricket hasn’t been great. Since September 2024, he has scored only 152 runs in 13 innings, with just one half-century. His average was just 11.69, and things got worse during the tour of Australia, where he managed only 31 runs in three matches. That’s the lowest ever by a visiting captain in Australia. After dropping himself for the final Test in Sydney, questions around his future in the format only grew louder.
Two reasons behind the sudden call
Cricket expert Harsha Bhogle shared his thoughts, saying there could be two reasons behind Rohit’s sudden call.
“My first reaction is that there’s been a conversation. He’s been told we’re not going to pick you for England. That’s my gut feel. We don’t know,” he said. “The chairman of selectors lives across the road so we could drag him in and ask him. But my gut feel is post Australia where Rohit looked lost. Gilchrist was in that series to watch closely, he looked lost. So maybe they’ve said to him, look, maybe your time in Test has come to an end. And as you do with a lot of great players, you give them the opportunity to retire before they are left.”
“I think that is what might have happened. Unless Rohit himself has said, look, I think I might have. I might have. I’ve passed my sell-by date for this match. Let me ask Gill,” he added.
Gilchrist saw it coming in Sydney
Gilchrist agreed more with the second possibility and shared that during the Sydney Test, he got the feeling Rohit had already made up his mind.
“It’s an odd thing to say, but I’m thrilled for him. Particularly if it’s the latter option that you said there. And I think it would be that he’s made the decision. I sensed at Sydney, talking to him in and around the Sydney Test, when he left himself out or whatever the case was there. I just thought, talking with him, I felt like that’s the end of the road for him. He was going to allow himself time to go away and the Champions Trophy and see how he’s going and stuff. But I congratulate him on a fantastic contribution to his Test career. He’s a white ball master, there’s no doubt about that. But he’s made significant contributions to Test career as well,” he said.
“I think he’s just realised that maybe the time’s right and I always love people realizing that. So they now get the chance to start to reflect on it and enjoy all the accolades that come his way because they’re thoroughly deserved. I’ll tell you what is very special.”
After retiring from T20 Internationals following the World Cup last year, Rohit will now focus only on ODIs, where he continues to lead the Indian team.
About the Author
Arpit Sharma is a sports writer and journalism student at Chandigarh University, with a strong interest in sports analysis and storytelling. His writing combines match insights with a fresh, fan-first perspective that brings the game to life.
Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Vygr's views.
With inputs from agencies
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