Former Indian cricketer Madan Lal has weighed in on the discussions surrounding Rohit Sharma‘s position in the team, given his recent struggles with form. Lal suggests that the team management and coach should address the situation collaboratively. He emphasises that the final decision rests with the captain.
Rohit joined the Indian team after their victory in the first Test in Perth. Upon his return, his performance has been underwhelming, scoring only 31 runs in subsequent matches, with an average of just 6.20.
His overall Test average across the last nine matches has dipped to 10.93, fuelling speculation about his future in the team.
“Rohit is a captain. As team management, as a coach, they can sit down and sort things out. What’s the problem when you’re playing for the country? The coach doesn’t have that much power to just drop someone. They’ll have to consult, right? The team isn’t formed by the captain alone, is it? The coach and captain together form the team, right?” Madan Lal told IANS.
India’s coach, Gautam Gambhir, has added to the uncertainty by declining to confirm Rohit’s selection for the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Sydney. Gambhir stated that a decision on Rohit’s inclusion would be made after assessing the pitch conditions on match day.
Madan Lal believes Rohit should personally evaluate his situation. He suggests Rohit consider stepping aside if he feels he isn’t contributing effectively. Lal also points out the frequent changes in Rohit’s batting position as a potential concern.
“Rohit has to make a decision—whether to play or not to play. If he believes he can do the job and regain his form, that’s good. It’s about how you feel, your confidence. If he feels that he’s not pulling his weight, he can always step aside and give a chance to others. The only thing is that the shuffling of the batting order is a bit of an issue. First, he went to number five, then he came back to the top of the order.”