Image: Ravi Shastri regrets Rohit Sharma's absence in a crucial Test against Australia / © MyKhel
For the now-retired Rohit Sharma, his Test career ended amidst personal struggles and a disappointing tour of Australia, where he averaged just 10.93 across three matches and scored only 31 runs. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri, speaking on The ICC Review, reflected on Rohit’s exclusion from the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney, with the series poised at 2-1.
Shastri, known for backing senior players, said that had he been the coach, Rohit would have played the decider. He emphasized that the Sydney pitch was difficult, but Rohit’s match-winning potential could have turned the game with even a 30-40 run knock. Shastri expressed his regret over Rohit’s absence, calling it a missed opportunity, and shared how he conveyed his sentiments to Rohit during an IPL encounter.
He believed that leaders shouldn’t give up when a series is still alive. Rohit’s departure, along with Virat Kohli’s recent retirement, marks the end of an era in Indian Test cricket. The Indian team now prepares for a five-Test series in England to kickstart a new World Test Championship cycle. Shastri’s remarks underscore the emotional weight and significance of Rohit’s final Test phase and the belief that his presence could have changed the outcome.