Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli celebrated a significant achievement by winning the T20 World Cup in the middle of 2024; however, the year concluded with both of India's most experienced players enduring what could be considered the most challenging seasons of their careers. India faced a tumultuous period during the 2024/25 Test season, ultimately leading to their failure to qualify for the World Test Championship final for the first time. Central to this disappointment was the notably poor performance of Rohit and Kohli with the bat, coupled with a lack of bowling depth following Jasprit Bumrah's absence in Australia.

Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta has remarked that the upcoming months will be particularly pivotal for Rohit's career, emphasizing that the criteria for assessing the captain will differ from those applied to Kohli. “We should not group Rohit and Virat together,” Dasgupta stated on Star Sports. “Similar to the previous era of Indian cricket, where Sachin (Tendulkar) and Rahul (Dravid) were evaluated separately, it is essential to assess each player on an individual basis.”

Rohit's stunning dip in the 2024/25 season

Kohli recorded an average of 22.47 over 19 innings during the 2024/25 Test season, accumulating a total of 382 runs. It is important to highlight that one of these innings included a century, resulting in only 282 runs from the remaining 18 innings. While this performance is disappointing for any player, it is particularly concerning given Kohli's esteemed status. In contrast, Rohit's statistics are even more alarming. The Indian captain managed to score merely 164 runs in 15 innings, achieving an average of 10.93, with only one half-century to his credit. Rohit's situation is further complicated by his age, as he is currently 37 and may be over 40 by the conclusion of the upcoming World Test Championship cycle.

Dasgupta remarked, "The next five months, which will primarily feature international white-ball cricket and the IPL, are critical for Rohit. His performance in these formats will be significant. Additionally, his form in first-class cricket, fitness, and performance in the Champions Trophy will also play a vital role. Ultimately, the selectors will make the final decision."

Rohit's position as captain of the Test team has also been questioned, particularly following India's loss in five of the last six Tests under his leadership. This includes a humiliating 3-0 defeat to New Zealand at home, which ended India's remarkable winning streak in home Tests. Rohit ultimately chose to withdraw from the final Test of the series against Australia, which India lost by six wickets, resulting in the concession of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade.

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