India's captain Rohit Sharma is currently facing significant challenges in terms of scoring runs during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The 37-year-old right-handed batsman displayed some improvement by facing 40 balls in the second innings of the Melbourne Test against Australia; however, his innings was cut short by Pat Cummins, who dismissed him for a mere 9 runs.

Following India's disappointing 184-run defeat to Australia in Melbourne, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan offered a candid evaluation of Rohit's performance, noting that he has an average of just over 24 in Tests for the year 2024.

Pathan remarked that Rohit Sharma's position in the playing XI would be uncertain if he were not the captain. Throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Rohit has accumulated only 31 runs across five innings, resulting in an average of 6.20.

Rohit began 2024 on a high note, amassing an impressive 400 runs in the five-match series against England. However, his performance in Tests has significantly declined since that time.

"A player who has accumulated around 20,000 runs—yet how Rohit is currently struggling suggests that his form is not in his favour. The reality is that he is playing because he is the captain. If he were not in that role, he might not be part of the team at this moment. You would likely have a more established lineup," Irfan Pathan stated during an interview with Star Sports.

"KL Rahul would likely be opening the batting, along with Jaiswal and Shubman Gill. If we consider the facts, given his current struggles with the bat, it is plausible that he would not have a spot in the playing XI," he further elaborated.

Rohit's return as an opener doesn't pay off

In the Tests held in Adelaide and Brisbane, Rohit Sharma occupied a position in the middle order, as KL Rahul delivered an outstanding performance in the series opener in Perth, where he scored 26 and 77 runs.

Nevertheless, Rohit's unsatisfactory performances in both Tests resulted in his reinstatement as an opener. KL Rahul was positioned at No. 3 in Melbourne, while Shubman Gill remained on the sidelines.

This strategic adjustment did not yield the desired results, as Rohit struggled to find his rhythm, managing scores of only 3 and 9 in the Melbourne Test.

Commenting on Rohit's situation, Irfan Pathan remarked, "However, due to his role as captain and the necessity to win the next match to level the series, he remains in the lineup. Yet, his form is significantly lacking. Even before this tour, he was not accumulating runs, and that trend continues."

"It is quite disheartening to witness Rohit Sharma's batting at this time. I have always enjoyed watching him play, whether in Test matches or One Day Internationals. However, currently, his form and approach, along with the coordination with his body, seem to be absent," he further expressed.

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