Who said what - top 5 expert reactions on Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli's future after BGT 2024-25 4th Test ft. Sunil Gavaskar

Team India skipper Rohit Sharma and senior batter Virat Kohli have had disastrous outings in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. Their batting woes have haunted the team, resulting in India going 1-2 down in the five-match series with one Test remaining.

The 184-run defeat at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) ignited debates about Rohit and Kohli's retirement from Tests. Rohit accumulated 12 runs in the series, while Kohli returned with 41 runs. The former India skipper looked good in the first innings but Yashasvi Jaiswal's untimely run out caused a lapse in his concentration, resulting in him edging another outside-the-off-stump delivery.

Rohit averages a lowly 6.20 in three Tests, aggregating only 31 runs. Kohli, on the other hand, has scored 167 runs in seven innings at an average of 27.83. Barring the century in the second innings of the Perth Test, Kohli has also struggled to get going.

Following their poor performances, there have been widespread discussions about Kohli and Rohit's retirement. On that note, let's look at the top five expert reactions on Virat Kohli and Rohit's Test future.

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#1 Ravi Shastri

Former India head coach reckons that Rohit will have to make a call on his career following the conclusion of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25.

"As far as Rohit is concerned, it’s a call. At the top of the order, his footwork isn’t the same. He is probably, at times, a little late in meeting the ball. So it’s his call at the end of the series," Shastri told Star Sports (via India Today).

However, Shastri believes Kohli will still play for another three to four years.

"No, I think Virat Kohli will play. Virat will play for some time, forget the way he got out today. I think he will play for 3 or 4 more years."

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#2 Justin Langer

Former Australia head coach Justin Langer believes the end is near for Rohit Sharma. He pointed out that Rohit, usually calm and composed, was quite emotional on the field during Australia's second innings.

Langer said via WION:

"Rohit Sharma looks very tired to me. I saw him quite emotional on the field yesterday. That's unusual for us to see Rohit like that. He's usually so calm, so chilled out. But he was showing his emotions; he looks tired."

“It's understandable because, as a cricketer, when you're not making runs, that's all that stays on your mind. And as captain, if you're not making runs and your team is not winning, the stress starts to come into the game. Whether he can get up for Sydney, that's up to him. It's a big challenge. India need him to get up to speed in Sydney," he added.

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#3 Sunil Gavaskar

India legend Sunil Gavaskar reckons the selection committee should start looking at new faces ahead of the next cycle of the ICC World Test Championship.

When asked if a retirement for Rohit is on the cards, Gavaskar told Sports Tak:

"If he is unable to score, then it is possible. It is possible. Because after this, the chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship final will be less with today's defeat. And the next cycle that will start, the series that will take place in England, the next cycle of the World Test Championship will be the cycle for 2027. So you should see new faces for that."

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#4 Atul Wassan

India's 1983 World Cup-winning side's member Atul Wassan opined that there should be a succession plan for players.

Throwing light on calls for Kohli's retirement, Wassan told ANI via Livemint:

"Virat has got runs, but he also knows what's happening. They are very sorted mentally. A player always thinks that 'my best is around the corner'. I'll do it just now.' It's such a long spell; it's hurting the team, and there is questioning, saying you should be dropped. A lynch mob comes after you."

"They also know what is going on. I think an exit plan, like a succession policy, must be clear, it's not fair on the management, the team and the cricketing structure, we don't know what's there in your mind," the former India player added.

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#5 Sanjay Manjrekar

Former India cricketer and popular commentator Sanjay Manjrekar reckons Virat Kohli deserves a longer rope in Test cricket despite his recent returns against Australia.

“I must say there is no comparison between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as Test batters. Kohli is right up there. He's a great Test batter, and Rohit is a good Test batter. Rohit's white-ball batting is great. So, Virat obviously deserves a longer rope," Sanjay Manjrekar said on Star Sports via News18.

However, Manjrekar added that Rohit's Test future lies with the chairman of selectors and not the cricketer.

“It’s not really up to Rohit Sharma. If you look at how the protocol and the hierarchy of team selection, the chairman of selectors, has the decision to make. He has the power to do what’s best for Indian cricket, so it’s not so much about Rohit Sharma himself, you know, deciding what should be the future. The chairman of the selector has that power. That’s with Rohit and he does look down in the doldrums. Virat Kohli is a different issue altogether," Manjrekar added.