Thu Feb 06 17:26:42 UTC 2025: ## Rohit Sharma’s Poor Form Sparks Retirement Calls
**London, England:** Indian captain Rohit Sharma is facing intense pressure following another dismal performance, this time a two-run duck in the first ODI against England. His recent struggles, including a paltry 31 runs in five innings during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and underwhelming scores in the Ranji Trophy, have led to a surge of online criticism urging his retirement.
Sharma’s low score in the opening ODI, where he was caught by Liam Livingstone off the bowling of Saqib Mahmood, follows a string of poor performances. Social media is abuzz with calls for his retirement, with fans citing concerns over his fitness and lack of substantial contributions to the team. One fan tweeted, “Rohit Sharma should retire after the Champions Trophy…he has no fitness, no intent, and has lost the plot totally.” Others echoed similar sentiments, suggesting he retire to avoid being dropped from the team.
The pressure on Sharma has been mounting for months. His captaincy during India’s 1-3 defeat to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, culminating in his self-imposed omission from the Sydney Test, further fueled the calls for his retirement. His early dismissal in the England ODI, after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s early wicket, only exacerbated the situation.
While Shreyas Iyer’s impressive innings offered a glimmer of hope for India, the focus remains firmly on Sharma’s future and the growing demand for him to step down from international cricket. The Champions Trophy appears to be a key juncture in the ongoing debate surrounding the captain’s future.
First Piper 