Rohit Sharma Dropped: Inspecting The Aftershock

Rohit Sharma will become the first Indian captain to be dropped. [Source: AP Photos]Rohit Sharma will become the first Indian captain to be dropped. [Source: AP Photos]

With Rohit Sharma opting out of the fifth Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 match beginning in Sydney tomorrow onward, only a supernatural phenomenon will allow him to play Test cricket again. Yet to retire from the format despite calls from several corners of the global cricketing fraternity, we all know what this decision will result in. Don’t we?

Rohitians, the 37-year-old cricketer’s loyal fans, are undergoing a digital meltdown. And it is totally understandable. However, comparisons with Virat Kohli are not. At a time when almost all reputable voices can foresee the culmination of Sharma’s career, even his staunchest fans would justify him not playing another Test provided Kohli also undergoes the same fate.

Should Kohli be dropped? Immediately. Has Kohli earned a bigger cushion than Sharma? Undoubtedly. In the general run of things, a captain has the biggest cushion in cricket. That Kohli has played 23 Tests with an average of 33.64 since last leading India explains who is valued more between these two greats.

Sharma’s greatness, however, stems from limited-overs formats. And this is where most Virat vs Rohit debates make little sense to me. This piece is neither intended to throw stats at you nor to demean Sharma’s achievements in Test cricket.

4,301 runs across 116 innings at an average of 40.57 including 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries is praiseworthy but not legendary. Therefore, hopefully, there will be an end to several speculations and online trends during the series-decider at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Should Rohit Sharma Lead India During ICC Champions Trophy 2025?

If the right-handed batter’s current form is taken into consideration, it seems that a break is what he needs. However, close to 38 now, the chances of improvement in Sharma’s game from hereon are scanty. Additionally, the chances of him playing domestic cricket for Mumbai are scantier.

More importantly, Sharma’s ODI form is in fine fettle even though India have had just three outings since ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Remember the aforementioned captain’s cushion? Yeah, that also works in his favour.

Most importantly, India do need a captain during ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Don’t they? Since successional planning has become a thing of the past in Indian cricket, Sharma should lead India during the Champions Trophy in the same way he led them during ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

As a genuine admirer of all that he has achieved for the nation, one hopes for Sharma to end his international career on a high note. A Champions Trophy title after 12 years would be quite a high. Assuming it happens, within three months of becoming the first Indian captain to be dropped, Sharma would become the second Indian captain to win more than one ICC title. That, too, would be quite a high.