Former Indian cricketers Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, and Sanjay Manjrekar have all hinted that the Boxing Day Test match might have been Rohit Sharma’s last in Test cricket. Rohit opted out of the fifth and final Test against Australia, being played in Sydney, allowing Jasprit Bumrah to lead the team for the second time in the series. Bumrah had earlier captained India to victory in the Perth Test during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The 37-year-old Rohit Sharma decided to rest himself for the fifth Test after scoring only 31 runs in five innings across three matches. Speaking during the lunch break on Day 1, Sunil Gavaskar said, “If India fails to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, the Melbourne Test might be Rohit’s last Test match.”
He further added, “The new cycle of the WTC begins with the England series, and the selectors will look for a player who can also play in the 2027 final. Whether India qualifies or not is a different matter, but that’s how selectors think. So, we might have already seen Rohit Sharma play his last Test match.”
During the toss presentation, Ravi Shastri commented on Rohit Sharma’s decision, saying, “Even before I could ask, Jasprit Bumrah revealed that Rohit decided to sit out and felt Shubman Gill’s inclusion would strengthen the team. This happens when you’re not scoring runs and are mentally not in the right place. It’s a brave decision for a captain to step aside from such an important match.”
India is trailing 1-2 in the series and must win the Sydney Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. A loss would end India’s hopes of reaching the WTC final. India’s next Test series is scheduled for June.
Ravi Shastri speculated, “Had it been a home season, Rohit might have considered playing further. But I feel he will announce his retirement after this Test match.”
He continued, “Rohit is not young anymore, and it’s not like India lacks talented youngsters. Many capable players are waiting for their chance. It’s a tough decision, but one that every player has to take someday.”
Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar praised Rohit’s decision, saying, “This is a very Rohit Sharma-like decision—putting the team first and making the right call at the right time. However, the secrecy surrounding this decision is surprising. Even during the toss, it wasn’t discussed clearly.”