'You don't leave the team ... ': Ravi Shastri's fiery take on Rohit Sharma

NEW DELHI: Rohit Sharma’s decision to sit out of the Sydney Test against Australia in January this year sparked widespread discussion among fans. He later explained that his choice was rooted in his belief of putting the team ahead of personal milestones — a principle he strongly stands by. Rohit had endured a difficult run in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which India lost 3-1, managing an average of just 6.20 across five innings.In light of his poor form, Rohit chose to step aside for the final Test in Sydney, handing over the captaincy duties to Jasprit Bumrah.The veteran opener announced his retirement from Test cricket last week, closing the chapter on a red-ball career that began with a debut century against the West Indies in Kolkata in 2013. He finishes with 4,301 runs from 67 Tests at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries. As captain, Rohit led India in 24 Tests, winning 12 and losing nine.Earlier in June 2024, Rohit had also called time on his T20I career after leading India to a seven-run victory over South Africa in the final of the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup.Meanwhile, former India head coach Ravi Shastri revealed that he would have preferred to see Rohit play that Sydney Test. Speaking on The ICC Review with host Sanjana Ganesan, Shastri recounted a conversation he had with Rohit during an IPL match, prior to the latter’s retirement.“I saw Rohit a lot at the toss. At the toss, you don't get enough time to speak. Though I did put my hand on his shoulder in one of the games,” Shastri recalled.“I think it was in Mumbai and told him, if I was coach you would have never not played that last Test match. You would have played that last Test match because the series wasn't over.“And I'm not someone who threw in the towel with the scoreline 2-1. If your mindset is you feel you are… that's not the stage, you leave a team.”Rohit’s struggles with the bat were evident in his final eight Tests, including home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, where he managed to cross 50 just once and averaged 10.93.Reflecting on the Sydney Test, Shastri said, “That was a 30-40 run game. And that's exactly what I told him. The pitch was so spicy in Sydney. Whatever kind of form he was in, he's a match-winner.”“If he had gone, sensed the situation, sensed the condition and smashed it for even 35-40 at the top, you never know. That series would have been level. But that's each one to his own.“Other people have different styles. This would have been my style and I let him know it. It's sitting in my heart for a long time. I had to get it out. And I told him that.”