India's captain Rohit Sharma endured a challenging phase with the bat during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Over the course of five innings in the series, Rohit accumulated a mere 31 runs, following a similarly disappointing performance in the home season, which included Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand. Compounding his difficulties, Rohit faced criticism regarding his captaincy, as India suffered a 0-3 clean sweep against New Zealand and a 1-3 defeat to Australia.

As reported by the Times of India, following a series of lackluster performances, Rohit seriously considered retirement. Prior to the Melbourne Test, there were already doubts regarding his future in Test cricket, but the report indicates that his failure at the MCG served as a turning point for the Indian captain.

“Rohit had resolved to retire after the MCG. Had it not been for the encouragement from his supporters, we might have witnessed another retirement in Australia,” a source informed the newspaper.

Despite his personal challenges, Rohit was convinced by close friends to persist, leading to a change in his decision. Although he opted out of the final Test of the series in Sydney, the report suggests that this shift in perspective did not align well with head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Speculation regarding their relationship intensified when Gambhir attended the press conference prior to the final Test—a rare occurrence, as it is typically the captain who addresses the media. Additionally, Rohit's absence from the slip cordon during the team's last training session in Australia further fueled rumors of existing tensions.

The discord between the captain and coach has been a topic of conversation throughout the series, with reports of disagreements emerging over various issues, including team selection and critical match-day decisions such as the toss.

Rohit set for return in ODIs

Both parties are anticipated to collaborate in the forthcoming three-match ODI series against England, as well as in the Champions Trophy scheduled for February, despite the existing tensions. 

Rohit's performance in Test cricket has been notably poor. In 2024, over the course of three series—two of which took place in India—he accumulated a mere 164 runs in 15 innings, resulting in a concerning average of only 10.93. The Indian captain is likely hoping for an improvement in his fortunes as he transitions back to the ODI format, where he is expected to open the innings alongside Shubman Gill.

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