Rohit Sharma: Criticism of His Leadership:
As the Border-Gavaskar series reaches its final stage on Australian soil, Team India, trailing 1-2, faces a crucial battle starting this Friday in Sydney. Surprisingly, even the place of captain Rohit Sharma is not secured for the final test match.
During Thursday's press conference, head coach Gautam Gambhir refused to confirm Rohit's presence at the toss on Friday morning, hinting at a possibly disappointing end to Rohit’s career as a test cricketer.
Could He Be Dropped Due to Poor Form?
Indeed, Rohit is being criticized not only for facing difficulties with extra bounce and seam movement but also for his captaincy. If removed, Rohit would become the first captain dropped due to poor form in recent history, having scored just 31 runs in his last five innings.
Source: aajtak
Notably, MS Dhoni and Anil Kumble exited test cricket mid-series due to issues linked to their capacity to endure the long format (five-day cricket). In Rohit’s case, exclusion would be primarily due to form, as Gambhir has made it clear that performance is the sole criterion for maintaining a place in the Indian dressing room.
What if Rohit Doesn't Show Up for the Toss?
If Rohit does not appear for the toss on Friday, it's likely that he played his last test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) this week. Gambhir hasn’t disclosed the playing eleven, yet there are indications that India might bring in Shubman Gill for the one down position.
The ongoing series hasn’t been favorable for India, with Rohit experiencing possibly the worst phase of his career as captain and batsman. Whether or not he announces retirement, playing test cricket post-Sydney seems improbable for him.
Dissent in the Team? Starting with Ashwin’s Decision
Moreover, reported discontent within the team could affect performance. It reportedly started with Ravichandran Ashwin’s mid-series retirement decision, reducing Rohit’s stature as captain amidst his poor form.
Dhruv Jurel Could Replace Pant in Sydney
There are reports that Gambhir expressed his frustration with Rishabh Pant’s irresponsible shots leading to his dismissal. Speculation grows that Dhruv Jurel might replace Pant in Sydney's test. Expectation was high from Pant while chasing the target in Melbourne. He was settling in the crease but ended up caught by Mitchell Marsh on a big shot attempt off Travis Head’s delivery. His first innings also ended dustily, trying an awkward shot.
Ousting Pant could evoke memories of the 1984 England tour, when legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev was benched after reckless shot-making resulted in his dismissal. Jurel trained with senior players on Thursday.
What Did Kapil Dev Do Back Then?
In 1984/85, when England toured India for a five-test series, India won the first test in 'Bombay', but lost the Delhi test. Kapil Dev’s irresponsible batting was deemed responsible for the loss in the second innings.
Kapil arrived to bat when stability was crucial. Nevertheless, his attempt to hit English spinner Pat Pocock out of the park resulted in his dismissal. His aggressive brief stay, scoring 7 runs with a six from just 6 balls lasted only four minutes. The loss led to Kapil being dropped from the following test, with Team India playing in Kolkata without him.
