India's aspirations for the World Test Championship have been dashed following their defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. As attention shifts towards the upcoming Champions Trophy, a significant topic of discussion in Test cricket will undoubtedly revolve around the future of two of the team's senior players, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The Indian captain has made it clear that his recent move to Sydney does not indicate an impending retirement from the format. However, this statement reportedly went unheeded within the BCCI circles.

A Special General Meeting of the BCCI is set for Sunday, during which Devajit Saikia will take on the role of the board's secretary. One critical issue likely to be addressed is Rohit Sharma's future in Test cricket, particularly following his underwhelming performance in Australia.

The 37-year-old managed to score only 31 runs across five innings during the tour, resulting in an average of just 6.2, marking the lowest average for a touring captain in Australia. This performance has contributed to a disappointing total of 164 runs in his last eight Tests since September, with an average slightly above 10 and only one half-century to his name.

In light of his poor form, Rohit chose to "opt out" of the series decider in Sydney, leading to speculation regarding whether he had played his final Test match. Nevertheless, he quickly reassured fans during an interview with Star Sports on Day 2 of the Sydney Test, stating, “I am not going anywhere.”

However, a report from the Hindustan Times indicates that as Saikia prepares to meet with the team management and chief selector Ajit Agarkar for a series review, board officials have suggested that Rohit's comments regarding retirement should not be overinterpreted.

'Rohit was looking for escape route...'

Prior to receiving that call in Sydney, Rohit, who occupied the No. 6 position for India during the second and third Tests, managed to secure the opening position in Melbourne. This adjustment resulted in KL Rahul batting at No. 3, while Shubman Gill was excluded from the lineup. However, after experiencing two consecutive failures in the Boxing Day Test, Rohit opted to withdraw from the playing XI to allow for the inclusion of in-form players.

The board, which relies heavily on Agarkar to make challenging decisions, indicated that Rohit was merely seeking a last-minute solution to secure qualification for the WTC final.

“Rohit was hoping to see if India could discover a way to reach the WTC final. Ultimately, it is his choice whether to continue striving for a position,” stated a BCCI official, who preferred to remain anonymous. “However, the final decision will rest with Ajit Agarkar and his selection committee.”

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