India’s Rohit Sharma dismissed retirement rumors after being ruled out of the fifth and final Border Gavaskar Trophy Test in Sydney.
Speaking during the lunch break the other day, Rohit clarified his stand on the matter.
Rohit said that this is not a decision to retire nor am I walking away from the game.
“I withdrew for this match because I was not scoring runs at that time,” he added.
He emphasized that his decision was based on current form and was not an indication of an imminent retirement.
“There is no guarantee that the runs will not come down five or two months. I have seen a lot in cricket and life changes every second, every minute, every day,” he added.
“I believe things can change, but I also have to be realistic. Life is not going to change based on what people with mics, pens or laptops write or say.”
The Indian captain added that the decision about retirement or the role of the team should be left to the players themselves.
“There is no guarantee that the runs will not come down for five or two months. I have seen a lot in cricket and life changes every second, every minute, every day.”
“I believe things can change, but at the same time I have to be realistic. So life is not going to change by what people with mics, pens or laptops write or say.”
“They cannot decide when we should retire, when we should sit out, or when we should captain. I am a sensible man, a sensible man, a father of two children. So I know that What do I want in life?”
The 37-year-old acknowledged his current lack of form and the importance of in-form players in key matches.
“I am not in form and it is an important game. We need an in-form player. Our batting order is currently not in form. So out-of-form players cannot carry the team at this time. So it was simple in my mind. It was my understanding that I should tell the coach and the selectors and they supported my call.
As Rohit watched from the pavilion, India clawed their way back into the match, restricting Australia to 101/5 at lunch on day two before picking up a sixth wicket in Alex Carey (21) in the middle session.
India must win the Sydney Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and keep alive their slim hopes of making it to the final of the World Test Championship.
A win for Australia would secure a place in the final against South Africa at Lord’s in June, while also ending their cabinet’s 10-year absence of the Border-Gaskar Trophy.
The right-hander has had a challenging series averaging just 6.2 in five innings and is yet to taste victory on this tour. She missed India’s win in the first Test in Perth due to the birth of her second child.
In his absence, Jasprit Bumrah took over the captaincy for the Sydney Test, as he had done in the first Test.
However, Bumrah also left the SCG after picking up an injury while bowling in the second session. With Virat Kohli then leading the team on the field, India bowled out Australia for 181 runs.
In reply, India closed on day two at 141 for six, with a lead of 145 runs, thanks to Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar at the crease.