'Rohit Sharma shouldn’t play Tests': Mohammad Kaif blasts India skipper for ‘cowardly’ SCG decision

Former India National Cricket Team player Mohammad Kaif was shocked when skipper Rohit Sharma dropped himself for the last game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He believes that the batter was needed most in the Sydney Test.

Rohit Sharma made a shocking decision ahead of the last game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The India National Cricket Team skipper dropped himself from the team for the last game and handed leadership to Jasprit Bumrah with Shubman Gill replacing him as batter.

Rohit wasn't scoring runs in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 until the Sydney Test, mustering just 31 runs. However, dropping himself in the last match didn't work as well as India went on to lose the match by the margin of 6 wickets and lost the series 3-1.

I think Rohit should no longer play in Tests because he was needed the most in the Sydney Test match - Mohammad Kaif

Mohammad Kaif wasn't impressed with the way Rohit dropped himself, saying that he shouldn't play the Tests now. He added that the India captain should've led from the front and helped his team draw the match. Speaking in a video posted on his Twitter account, he said:

“I think Rohit should no longer play in Tests because he was needed the most in the Sydney Test match, I had said he should have played. It would’ve been the right call. He should have forged a partnership with Jaiswal and led [the team] to a 2-2 draw [in the series]. [He should've] Taken a lead, and after a 2-2, he should have come back with honour, but he wasted it by not playing. He felt that he is a team man, he called in-form batter Shubman Gill and said, ‘I’m not playing.’”

Mohammad Kaif pointed out that Rohit Sharma’s absence was felt when Jasprit Bumrah got injured. He added:

"See, his absence was felt when Bumrah got injured in the second innings. Rohit Sharma, as a captain, would’ve been there [if he had played]. He has been with the team, he knows Akash Deep, Siraj, Jadeja or Prasidh Krishna is playing, and Rohit was traveling with all of them. So, your main leader, at the crucial time, there was no one, neither Bumrah nor Rohit Sharma."

Rohit Sharma took the wrong decision to sit out - Mohammad Kaif

Mohammad Kaif wasn't convinced with Virat Kohli leading the team in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. He said that the batter didn't captain for the last few years and he had no idea of the team. He stressed:

“The one who [Virat Kohli] is not leading for the last few years is leading the team, asking Siraj and Jadeja 'What are you going to do? Tell me.' Prasidh Krishna was playing his first match, his length was not right. Who is supporting your young bowlers where there was pressure? There was no one. So, I said that Rohit Sharma took the wrong decision to sit out.”

He should have played, it doesn’t matter whether he had failed to score runs - Mohammad Kaif on Rohit Sharma

Kaif concluded by saying that irrespective of the score, Rohit Sharma should've played the last match because he was in good form. He felt that Rohit had to play a big role in Sydney, but he walked away. He elaborated:

"He should have played, it doesn’t matter whether he had failed to score runs. No one was scoring runs. Neither it was Kohli, Khawaja or Labuschagne [who was scoring big]. Smith’s form came too late, there were no high-scoring matches."

"Everyone was struggling for runs. KL Rahul scored in the beginning, but he, too, failed later, scoring 100 or 0 at times. So, nobody scored runs. As a leader, there was a big role for Rohit Sharma in that Test match. Just being out there with the team that boss."

Also read: Ben Stokes labels himself 'Bionic Man' following hamstring surgery, starts recovery journey

Virat can make a Comeback,
Bumrah not the right fit to Captain Team India.
Gautam Gambhir not the Tactical Coach India needs.
What’s the way ahead for Team India?#BGT #CricketwithKaif11 pic.twitter.com/7FUrwgFwIm

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) January 8, 2025