Rohit Sharma has made it clear that he’s not stepping away from Test cricket. He explained that he opted out of the Sydney match against Australia because he wasn’t in great form. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes the 37-year-old should participate in the knockout rounds of the Ranji Trophy if he wants to get back into the Test team.

Rohit had a tough time during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring only 31 runs across three Tests against Australia. He missed the first match in Perth and didn’t really shine when he returned for the day-night Test in Adelaide.

In four out of five innings during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Rohit couldn’t even reach double digits.

“Well, there aren’t many four-day games around, but if there are some like the Ranji Trophy and Mumbai makes it to the knockout stages, he should definitely consider playing,” Gavaskar told India Today.

“I know it might seem a bit unfair to the players who’ve been in the initial rounds, but for the greater good of Indian cricket, if there’s a chance for him to play, he should take it. That’s the best way for him to get some time in the middle,” he added..

Participating in the Ranji Trophy will boost his confidence

Gavaskar mentioned that if Rohit Sharma participates in the Ranji Trophy and gets some time at the crease, it could really boost his confidence.

“It’s not just about playing a few overs in a 50-over match. It’s about spending an entire day at the wicket, batting for 4.5 to 5 hours, and scoring big. That’s what will build his confidence for the Test matches,” Gavaskar explained.

Rohit Sharma missed the New Year's Test in Sydney due to a rough patch in his scores. On Day 2, he spoke to the host broadcaster, explaining that he chose to step back after discussions with head coach Gautam Gambhir and selector Ajit Agarkar.

“As I mentioned, this isn’t a retirement decision, nor am I stepping away from the game. I’m just not performing well right now,” Rohit said.

“There’s no guarantee that my bat will start working in five months or even two months. Cricket is unpredictable; things can change in an instant. I believe in myself that things will turn around, but I also need to be realistic,” he added.

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