Rohit Sharma's Test Retirement — Here's What Might Have Led To It

Rohit's struggles in red-ball cricket have been evident over the past year.

As Rohit's batting form dipped, so did his grip on the Test captaincy.

Source : PTI

Rohit Sharma's sudden retirement from Test cricket, announced just ahead of the high-profile series against England, has sparked widespread discussion. While the announcement seemed abrupt, a deeper look at recent performances reveals that the writing had been on the wall for some time.

Prolonged slump with the bat

Rohit's struggles in red-ball cricket have been evident over the past year. He scored just one half-century in his last 15 Test innings, with his most recent century coming in March of the previous year.

On the recent tour of Australia, the numbers were stark - just 31 runs in five innings, averaging a dismal 6.20. His form was no better at home, where India suffered an unprecedented 0-3 Test series defeat to New Zealand. The Hitman's famed consistency was missing, and the prolonged slump raised serious concerns about his place in the team.

Captaincy under scanner

As his batting form dipped, so did his grip on the Test captaincy. India's shocking series loss at home to New Zealand - something that had never happened before - was followed by a failed Border-Gavaskar campaign in Australia, dashing hopes of a third straight series win there. These setbacks placed Rohit's leadership under intense scrutiny.

Despite his recent triumphs as a white-ball captain - winning both the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy - his red-ball record stood in sharp contrast. Rohit even dropped himself from the final Test of the Australia series, possibly under pressure or in acknowledgment of his poor batting form.

Selectors had moved on

According to reports, the Indian selectors had already decided to move in a new direction for the England tour and had informed Rohit that he would not continue as Test captain. With his position in the playing XI no longer guaranteed, the veteran may have chosen to retire rather than face the prospect of being sidelined.