Former Indian cricketer Pravin Amre says Rohit Sharma did not live up to his evident skill in the red-ball format. Amre’s comments followed Rohit’s Instagram post on Tuesday, May 7, announcing his retirement from Test cricket.
In 2013, the 38-year-old made his red-ball debut for India, finishing with 67 Test matches. Averaging 40.57, Rohit amassed 4,301 runs, including 12 hundreds and 18 half-centuries.
Considering Rohit’s Test career, Amre stated (via TOI):
“Fantastic defensive game and an in-born game-sense that every Mumbai batter usually has. He had that confidence always. He used to play a lot of shots and get caught in the outfield initially. Maybe that is why the early consistency was lacking. But once he figured out his game, he became consistent. But I still feel he did not do justice to his talent as a Test batter.”
Rohit began as India opener since 2019, having had a Test career in the lower middle-order. The right-handed batter even thrived in long spells once he came to open the innings, but he had to endure a dire spell over the last couple of months.
Rohit Sharma had averaged under 11 with a lone half-century in final eight Tests, and India had fallen prey to back-to-back series losses against New Zealand and Australia.
“He should have waited till the tour of England and then quit” – Dilip Vengsarkar
Dilip Vengsarkar, a former Indian captain and selector, feels that Rohit Sharma ought to have quit playing Test cricket following the forthcoming England tour. A five-Test series in England, beginning on June 20, will be India’s next Test assignment.
During India’s most recent trip of England in 2021–2022, Rohit was the star of their 2-2 drew series. In four Test matches, he amassed 368 runs at an average of 52.57, including two half-centuries and a century.
Regarding Rohit’s abrupt withdrawal from Test cricket, Vengsarkar stated (via TOI):
“He has that rare gift to pick length early. That allows him to defend or attack off front or back foot. He never takes pressure about bowlers or conditions. I fear that India will miss him as an experienced opener. He batted very well in 2021, left a lot of balls and batted time. He should have waited till the tour of England and then quit.”
Dilip Vengsarkar
Rohit made himself available for India’s latest Test against Australia in Sydney, after batting below par in the preceding three games earning him an average of only 6.20. After retirement from Test cricket, ahead of the England tour, Team India will now search for a new captain.
