'Rohit Sharma, thank you for your service' - India captain's retirement date finalized

Former Australia National Cricket Team player Mark Waugh has delivered a bold take on the retirement of India National Cricket Team skipper Rohit Sharma. He said that if the captain fails in the second innings at MCG, then selectors should say thank you to him.

India National Cricket Team skipper Rohit Sharma has come under massive pressure following his poor outings with the bat in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The skipper has looked horrible with the bat in the last 8 games that he has played in the longest format of the game.

Rohit Sharma has looked off-colour since the home Test series against Bangladesh

Rohit has looked off-colour since the home Test series against Bangladesh National Cricket Team. He failed in all 5 games at home and then his torrid run with the bat continued even in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, which has seen him facing a lot of criticism.

Rohit missed the first Test of the series and then returned to the team in the second match. He batted in the middle order in two games but failed terribly with the bat and then moved up the order in the ongoing match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne.

Rohit Sharma attempted a half-hearted pull against Pat Cummins and ended up giving a meek edge to mid-wicket. The India National Cricket Team skipper stayed for just 5 balls at the crease and managed just 3 runs. He has come under a lot of firing lines now.

Rohit Sharma now will be having a massive opportunity with the bat in the second innings. With India likely to chase a target of around 350 runs, he will have to bring his A-game and silence all the critics with the bat.

All great players come to an end at some stage - Mark Waugh

Mark Waugh, however, issued a warning to Rohit Sharma, saying that if he was the Indian selector, then he would give the Indian captain one last chance to prove himself, saying that he would be bringing Jasprit Bumrah as captain in the next match if the skipper fails. Speaking to Fox Cricket, he explained:

"If I was a selector now, it depends what happens in the second innings, but if he doesn't make runs … I'd be saying, ‘Rohit, thank you for your service. You've been a great player, but we're going to bring in Jasprit Bumrah as captain for the SCG. The signs are there that he's past his best. It happens to all players. All great players come to an end at some stage."

I think they've given him leniency already because he's been a great player for India - Mark Waugh on Rohit Sharma

Mark Waugh further said that Rohit Sharma hasn't been at his best as a captain, adding that he has been given leniency because of his past contributions to India. He believes that if the batter fails to make a mark in the second innings at MCG, then the time will be up for him. He added:

"The numbers don't lie. Even his movement in the field and his tactical decisions have been off the pace. I think they've given him leniency already because he's been a great player for India, but at some stage, that leniency has to stop. It stops after this Test match unless he makes runs in the second innings."

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