Not BCCI or Selectors! Rohit Sharma’s Test future now in hands of this Powerful Man

Veteran Indian opener Rohit Sharma is likely to continue as captain of the Test side for the upcoming five-match series against England, starting on June 20. The selection committee has yet to make a final decision, but Gautam Gambhir’s opinion is expected to play a crucial role in deciding the captaincy.

Rohit Sharma was under immense pressure after India's 1-3 Test series defeat in Australia. Sharma has also been going through poor batting form in Test cricket. Concerns over Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness and the lack of a leadership successor among younger players have further strengthened Rohit's case.

Rohit Sharma Remains the Test Captain for England Tour - Report

The 37-year-old opted out of the final Test during the BGT series in Sydney. However, he led the Men in Blue to victory in the recently concluded Champions Trophy, remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament. Notably, it was his second ICC title as captain, having led India in the T20 World Cup 2024.

According to a PTI report, Rohit Sharma will remain India's Test captain despite opting out of the final Test in Sydney. The report also stated that Rohit never expressed a desire to step away from Test cricket.

"Technically, Rohit remains the Test captain. He voluntarily benched himself from the last Test in Sydney where he explained that a team can't carry on with multiple out of form batters," PTI quoted a BCCI source as saying.

"After Australia Tests, India haven't played any Tests, and hence, there has been no change in Test captaincy. Also, Rohit never said he doesn't want to play Tests," the source added.

Gautam Gambhir to Play Crucial Role in Rohit Sharma's Future in Tests

The report further stated that the final decision on the Test captaincy will be made later, with Gautam Gambhir's viewpoint playing a key role. The selection committee is currently on a break but will finalize plans for the England series once the IPL starts.

"The selection committee gets a break during IPL. Obviously, with all matches televised, they always don't need to travel unless they have some specific strategy or they want to watch a particular player from up close," the source said.

"So once IPL starts, the blueprint for the England series will be drawn at some point. But (coach) Gautam Gambhir's viewpoint will have a lot of weightage," the source added.

Team India to Commence New WTC Cycle with England Series

India lost six of their last eight matches, including a 0-3 home whitewash against New Zealand. Team India failed to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final for the first time.

Rohit also struggled with the bat and returned to the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai but failed to make a significant impact. However, he performed well in his last England tour, scoring 368 runs in eight innings at an average of 52.57, including a match-winning century at The Oval.

The Indian cricket team will kick-start their next World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle with a five-match Test series in England. England will host the first Test at Headingley in Leeds, starting on June 20.

Also read: 2011 World Cup heartbreak changed Rohit Sharma forever, sensationally claims Robin Uthappa