Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has expressed his belief that Rohit Sharma should have been given the opportunity to play in the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia earlier this year. Despite Rohit’s poor form leading up to the match, Shastri felt that the swashbuckling opener could have made a difference on the field.
Shastri’s comments came after Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 7. Reflecting on the situation, Shastri revealed that he had shared his thoughts with Rohit during the series, stating, “I saw Rohit a lot at the toss. At the toss, you don’t get enough time to speak. Though I did put my hand on his shoulder in one of the games. I think it was in Mumbai and told him, if I was coach you would have never not played that last Test match. You would have played that last Test match because the series wasn’t over.”
The former coach emphasized that he would not have given up on Rohit despite the series reading 2-1 in favor of Australia. He believed that Rohit’s presence on the field could have turned the tide in India’s favor. Notably, Rohit Sharma was not included in the playing XI for the final Test in Sydney after a string of low scores in the series.
Rohit Sharma’s exclusion from the team was primarily due to his poor form, having scored only 31 runs in five innings at an average of 6.20. Despite his recent struggles, Rohit has had a successful Test career, amassing 4,301 runs in 67 matches at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries and 18 fifties.
Ravi Shastri lauded Rohit Sharma as a match-winner and expressed his belief that even a modest contribution from the opener could have made a significant impact in the final Test against Australia. Shastri emphasized, “That was a 30-40 run game. And that’s exactly what I told him. The pitch was so spicy in Sydney. Whatever kind of form he was in, he’s a match-winner. If he had gone, sensed the situation, sensed the condition and smashed it for even 35-40 at the top, you never know. That series would have been level.”
In the end, Australia emerged victorious in the series, defeating India by six wickets in the final Test to claim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1. The absence of key players like Jasprit Bumrah, who was sidelined due to injury, also impacted India’s performance in the series.
Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Test cricket marks the end of an era for Indian cricket, with fans and experts alike reflecting on his contributions to the game. Ravi Shastri’s support for Rohit Sharma’s inclusion in the final Test highlights the respect and admiration that the talented opener commands within the cricketing fraternity.
