Ex-AUS Captain Shuts Rohit Sharma Critics Amid Controversy: ‘He Will Walk Away On His Terms’ – News18

Last Updated:January 01, 2025, 22:15 IST

Speaking ahead of the fifth and final Test in Sydney, Michael Clarke emphasized Rohit’s stature in the game and the leeway afforded to captains.

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has voiced his support for India skipper Rohit Sharma, urging critics to allow the veteran batter to decide his future in Test cricket. Rohit, under mounting scrutiny for his underwhelming performance in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, is yet to make a significant contribution with the bat in the series.

Speaking ahead of the fifth and final Test in Sydney, Clarke emphasized Rohit’s stature in the game and the leeway afforded to captains.

“You see that with several players — to some people, the captaincy helps; for others, it doesn’t. I certainly think he’ll play in Sydney. I don’t think they’ll drop him. Rohit has earned the right, and he’s captain. When you are captain, you get a little more leeway as well,” Clarke told ESPN.

Rohit’s numbers as captain haven’t matched his previous exploits. While he averages 30.58 in the leadership role, his batting average before taking over the reins stood at an impressive 46.87. Despite these figures, Clarke believes the 36-year-old deserves the respect to exit on his terms.

“Those numbers don’t read great. But they’ll allow Rohit to walk away on his terms. No idea if Sydney will be his last Test. I’m not sure what he is thinking, or what India’s got coming up Test cricket-wise,” Clarke added.

“I’m not sure how Rohit feels captaincy-wise…he’s just had his second child, so who knows what’s going to happen there. But I imagine he will certainly play in Sydney.”

Adding to the conversation, another former Australian skipper, Aaron Finch, pointed out India’s apparent instability since Rohit’s return as captain.

“The alarming thing for me is how well they played under Bumrah’s captaincy in Perth (in the first Test) and they’ve come back here looking like an unsettled line-up since Rohit’s come back in,” Finch observed.

However, Finch was quick to acknowledge Rohit’s class as a batter.

“But he’s still a great player, he’s a beautiful player to watch, and I hope he gets some runs,” he added.