Rohit Sharma Retirement: ‘Brave Decision to Own Up and Say I Will Bench Myself...’ From Shastri to Gavaskar, Here's What Former Cricketers Said, Should Virat Kohli Follow Suit?

Rohit Sharma Retirement: India is struggling in theIND vs AUS 5th Test on Day 1. Choosing to bat first, the Indian team is tottering at 170 runs with 9 wickets down. Rohit Sharma, India’s skipper, is notably absent from the match. Earlier, rumors had been rife about Rohit Sharma benching himself due to poor form, which were confirmed at the toss.

This decision has fueled intense debates about Rohit Sharma’s retirement, with many former cricketers sharing their perspectives. Meanwhile, echoes of retirement have also begun to surround another senior player, Virat Kohli, as his performances in the IND vs AUS 5-match Test series come under scrutiny.

Ravi Shastri on Rohit Sharma's Tough Decision

Commenting during the match on Rohit Sharma retirement, Ravi Shastri acknowledged the difficult choice Rohit Sharma might be making. "If there was a home season coming up, he might have thought of carrying on, but I think he might just pull the plug at the end of this Test. He's not getting younger; he's 38 years of age. It's not that India don't have youngsters, there are some very, very good players in the wings, and it's time to build. It's a tough decision, but there's a time for everything," Shastri said on Star Sports.

Sunil Gavaskar Weighs In

Initially, Sunil Gavaskar had advocated for Rohit Sharma to play the final Test. However, after it was clear that Rohit had opted to bench himself, Gavaskar made a bold statement regarding Rohit Sharma retirement.

"Well, I think what it probably means is that India don't qualify for the World Test Championship final. To me, it looks like the Melbourne Test would be Rohit Sharma's last game. The new cycle of the World Test Championship will start from the England series, so they will look to have somebody who will be available for the 2027 final. Whether India gets to the final or not is another matter, but I think that's what the selection committee will do. Therefore, maybe we've probably seen Rohit Sharma for the last time in Test cricket," Gavaskar commented on Star Sports.

Mark Taylor Criticises the Decision

Former Australian cricketer Mark Taylor expressed his discontent with the handling of the situation.

"To be honest, that's, what do I call that? That's once again sidestepping the point. The bottom line is the captain of a country does not opt out for the final Test match, the final deciding Test match of a series. He has been dropped, and I don't know why they just don't say he's been dropped. That doesn't mean he's dropped forever; it means he's missing this match because he is out of form. That is unfortunately professional sports," Taylor said on Triple M Cricket.

Jasprit Bumrah Explains the Decision

Speaking at the toss, Jasprit Bumrah, standing in as captain, explained the situation. "Obviously, our captain has shown his leadership as well. He's opted to rest in this game. So that shows there's a lot of unity in our team. There's no selfishness; whatever is in the team's best interest, we are looking to do that. Two changes: Rohit has rested, Akash Deep is injured, and Prasidh Krishna is in," Bumrah said.

Irfan Pathan Urges Rohit Sharma to Fight

Former Indian pacer Irfan Pathan took to X to voice his thoughts on the matter.

"In my personal opinion, Rohit Sharma should fight out this phase. I don’t want him to walk out of this. He has done enough for Indian cricket, and I am sure he has the ability to turn this around. This is the last and a crucial Test match of the series, and experience should come in handy. Whatever decisions are required should come after the series," Pathan wrote.

Virat Kohli Under the Scanner

As the retirement buzz surrounds Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli has also come under the microscope. The 36-year-old has struggled in the IND vs AUS 5-match Test series. On 5th Test Day 1, Kohli managed just 17 runs off 69 balls before being dismissed.

Social media was abuzz with users questioning Kohli’s future in Test cricket. However, Ravi Shastri had previously stated that Kohli still has 3-4 years left in the game, while emphasising that for Rohit Sharma, "It’s a call."

With India’s performance in the IND vs AUS 5th Test hanging by a thread, questions about the future of senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are intensifying. With the team's struggles becoming evident, it is now clear that India’s place in the WTC (World Test Championship) Final is no longer a possibility.

Though Australia is yet to bat, all eyes will be on how they perform as the series reaches its climax. Amidst this uncertainty, discussions around the potential retirement of senior players gain momentum, leaving fans and experts wondering if significant changes in the team are on the horizon.