Fri Jan 03 12:10:49 UTC 2025: ## Rohit Sharma’s Test Career Potentially Ends in Melbourne
**Melbourne, Australia:** Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s absence from the final Test against Australia has sparked speculation that his Test career may be over. Sharma, struggling with a poor run of form, scoring only 31 runs in five innings across the series, opted himself out of the crucial match. Vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah is leading the team in his stead, as he did in the first Test.
Former Indian cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri believe the Boxing Day Test might have been Sharma’s last. Gavaskar suggested that if India fails to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, Sharma’s omission signals the end of his Test career. He pointed out the selectors will likely prioritize players for the 2027 WTC cycle.
Shastri echoed similar sentiments, highlighting Sharma’s poor form and mental state as contributing factors to his decision. He noted that while Sharma might have considered continuing if the domestic season was underway, the timing suggests a potential retirement. Shastri praised Sharma’s brave decision to step aside.
Sanjay Manjrekar lauded Sharma’s decision as “a true Rohit Sharma move,” but questioned the secrecy surrounding it. In contrast, Australian cricket legend Mark Taylor suggested Sharma’s exclusion was due to his poor form, stating that a captain wouldn’t voluntarily sit out a crucial deciding Test. While Taylor believes this doesn’t necessarily signal the end of Sharma’s Test career, it’s clear his poor form played a significant role in the decision. India trails the series 1-2 and needs a win in Sydney to keep their WTC final hopes alive.
First Piper 