Ravi Shastri Reflects on Rohit Sharma's Test Retirement and Missed Opportunities

Shastri's Insights on Rohit Sharma's Absence in Final Test

Former head coach of the Indian cricket team, Ravi Shastri, has shared his thoughts on what he would have advised Rohit Sharma before the concluding match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, a match that Rohit ultimately missed.

Earlier this month, Rohit announced his retirement from Test cricket.

Due to a challenging phase with the bat, Rohit, aged 38, was unable to participate in the decisive Test at the SCG in January. Shastri recounted a discussion he had with Rohit during an IPL 2025 match, prior to Rohit's retirement from the Test format.

Shastri's Perspective on Rohit's Decision

"I noticed Rohit during the toss, but there wasn't much time to converse. However, I did manage to place my hand on his shoulder during one of the games in Mumbai and expressed that if I were the coach, he would have played that last Test match. The series was still in play," Shastri mentioned in an interview.

"I am not one to give up when the score is 2-1. If your mindset is to feel defeated, that's not the right attitude to lead a team."

Rohit's Performance Leading to His Decision

Rohit missed the first Test against Australia for personal reasons and managed only 31 runs in his subsequent three matches before deciding to skip the final Test. In his last eight Tests, including home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, he crossed the 50-run mark just once, averaging a mere 10.93.

Shastri's Disappointment Over Rohit's Absence

Shastri expressed his belief that Rohit is a match-winner and would have advocated for his inclusion in the Sydney Test, especially with the series at a critical 2-1.

"That match was close, and I conveyed to him that the pitch conditions in Sydney were challenging. Regardless of his form, he is a match-winner," Shastri stated.

He added that had Rohit scored 35-40 runs at the top, the series could have been tied.

"If he had recognized the situation and performed well, the series might have been level. But everyone has their own approach, and I shared my thoughts with him, which has been on my mind for a while."

Rohit Sharma's Official Retirement Announcement

Earlier this month, Rohit took to social media to announce his retirement from Test cricket, stating, "Hello everyone, I would like to share that I am retiring from Test cricket. It has been an absolute honor to represent my country in whites. Thank you for all the love and support over the years. I will continue to represent India in the ODI format."

Over his Test career, Rohit played 67 matches, scoring 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries. Notably, he achieved a remarkable score of 212 during a home series against South Africa in 2019.