Rohit Sharma has yet to formally announce his retirement from Test cricket; however, observations made by former Australia coach Justin Langer regarding his body language suggest that it may soon be time for the Indian captain to part ways with the longest format of the game. Rohit, once a formidable batsman, has not been performing at his previous level of excellence. Following a strong start to the year, which included a drawn Test series in South Africa, two centuries against England at home, and leading India to a remarkable T20 World Cup victory, the latter half of 2024 has been largely disappointing for him. In addition to welcoming a second child, Rohit's decline has been extensively reported.

In July, under Rohit's leadership, India suffered their first bilateral ODI series defeat to Sri Lanka in 28 years, and matters deteriorated further when New Zealand ended India's 12-year dominance with a 0-3 series loss at home. During the tour of Australia, India's sole victory in the series occurred in a match where Rohit was absent; upon his return, the team faced defeats in both Adelaide and Melbourne. Internal discussions indicated that Rohit might consider retiring after the MCG Test, but it now appears he will continue until the Sydney Test. Nevertheless, it would be prudent for him not to extend his Test career into the upcoming World Test Championship cycle, as India's next Test series, aside from the WTC final, is scheduled against England in June. Langer's observations further reinforce this perspective.

Rohit Sharma appears to be exhibiting signs of fatigue. His emotional display on the field yesterday was quite striking, as it is not typical for him to show such vulnerability. Generally, he maintains a composed and relaxed demeanour. However, his visible emotions and tiredness are understandable; as a cricketer, the pressure of not scoring runs can weigh heavily on one's mind. Furthermore, as captain, the burden intensifies when both personal performance and team success are lacking, leading to increased stress during matches. Whether he can rally himself for the upcoming match in Sydney remains to be seen, as it presents a significant challenge. India will require him to regain his form for that encounter, Langer remarked following Australia's 184-run victory, which gave them a 2-1 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Langer's observations resonate with the current situation. Rohit seems to be struggling with his leadership role. While he has been vocal and motivating his teammates, the intensity he usually displays appears to have diminished. His decisions, such as not having fielders close to the bat when the situation demands it, along with a lack of proactive strategies and his overall body language, suggest he may be running low on energy. In Adelaide, he left his gloves on the field after being dismissed, which sparked speculation about his mindset. Following the Sydney Test, we may witness the conclusion of a career that has left many expectations unfulfilled.

What about Virat Kohli?

In contrast to Ravi Shastri, Langer expressed a strong sense of confidence regarding Virat Kohli, who is Rohit's close ally. 

"I concur with Shastri regarding Virat. He performed exceptionally well in the initial innings. Perhaps the run-out of Jaiswal unsettled him, but it was unexpected to see him dismissed in that manner. He remains an exceptional player, is in remarkable physical shape, and all of India will be hoping for his resurgence," he remarked.

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