"His defense was getting breached on Indian pitches" - Former batter make huge statement on Rohit Sharma's Test future after woeful BGT 2024-25

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar reckons that the selectors must not find it too difficult to take a call on Rohit Sharma when it comes to picking the team for the Test series in England. Without directly stating that the Indian captain must be dropped, Manjrekar pointed out to the fact that Rohit had opted out of the Sydney Test and added that his defense was getting breached on Indian pitches as well.

After managing just one half century in five home Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand, Rohit had a horror series in Australia. Having missed the first Test for the birth of his second child, he totaled just 31 runs in five innings across the next three Tests. The 37-year-old then dropped himself from the final Test of the series played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar urged the selectors to take a sensible call on Rohit's Test future, not worrying about the kind of impact the decision would have. The former batter commented:

"He's opted out on form and it's not like things are going to get easier. The next challenge is going to be England. It will be that same line outside the off stump. That is a headache for the chairman of selectors. He's got to keep it simple and forget the effect those decisions will have.

"His [Rohit's] defense was getting breached in India on Indian pitches, so that's a serious cause for concern. KL Rahul-Jaiswal is a better opening stand looking at Rohit Sharma's form," the 59-year-old added.

Manjrekar also made another massive claim and suggested that, unlike Virat Kohli, Rohit hasn't made enough sacrifices to try and stretch his red-ball career.

"I don't think Rohit Sharma is making enough sacrifices to have one final burst - the kind of sacrifices Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar made at the end of their careers with regard to fitness and the preparation," the former Mumbai batter commented.

Rohit ended 2024 with 619 runs from 14 Test matches at an average of 24.76, with two hundreds and as many fifties. Both his tons came during the home series against England in February-March.

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Rohit Sharma's poor Test numbers in Australia

While the Indian captain had a horrendous series Down Under, he has never enjoyed a great time in Tests in Australia. If we look at his overall Test record in the country, the right-hander has featured in 10 matches and has scored 439 runs at an average of 24.38, with three half-centuries.

The 37-year-old's best of 63* came in Melbourne in December 2018. He scored 53 in Sydney in January 2015 and 52 at the same venue in January 2021.