Rohit Sharma wanted to play 2 Tests vs England; BCCI blocked him- Report

Team India opener Rohit Sharma was reportedly forced to announce his retirement ahead of the five-match Test series against England in away conditions. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) denied Rohit's request to play the first two matches as a player after stepping down as captain.

On Wednesday, May 7, Rohit Sharma surprised fans by retiring from Test cricket. The 38-year-old batter amassed 4,301 runs across 67 matches at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries and 18 fifties. The veteran batter shared the news with his followers through a post on his Instagram account.

Rohit Sharma Wanted to Play Two Tests, But Selectors Denied Request

According to a Times of India report, Rohit Sharma’s decision to retire from Test cricket wasn’t entirely his own. Rohit had offered to step down as Test captain and continue as a player, but the selectors, concerned about his recent form, rejected the proposal.

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The former Indian captain reportedly spent a week in talks with the selectors before announcing his decision. He had hoped to assess his performance during the first two Tests in England before making a final call on his red-ball future.

“Rohit had himself offered to relinquish Test captaincy. Last week, he had communicated to the selectors that they should be looking for other options. He wanted to test himself out in the first two Tests. However, the selectors weren’t comfortable with that idea,” a BCCI source told TOI on Wednesday.

Rohit Sharma Asked to Commit to Full England Tour

Rohit Sharma was given a tough choice after a meeting with the selectors. The selectors made it clear that Rohit should commit to the squad without the captaincy. They wanted to avoid the confusion that unfolded during the Australia tour involving Ravichandran Ashwin.

“He was asked to commit to the entire tour. The selectors and team management didn’t want to deal with chaos in the middle of the tour like it happened with Ravichandran Ashwin on the tour of Australia. Rohit also arrived on the same page and decided to call it quits,” the source said.

Rohit struggled across his last three Test series, starting with the home series against Bangladesh. His average is less than 11 across his last eight Tests and he hit just one half-century in 15 innings. He averaged only 6.20 across three Tests and opted out of the final Test in Sydney.

Selectors Looking Long-Term Captain Ahead of World Test Championship Cycle

The selectors are focused on finding a long-term captain for India ahead of the next cycle of the World Test Championship. While there has been speculation about Jasprit Bumrah or Virat Kohli stepping in temporarily for the England tour, the team management is looking beyond stop-gap solutions.

Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant are the leading candidates, though the selectors have concerns. Gill’s Test record remains inconsistent, especially in SENA countries, while Pant is going through a rough patch in his form. The selectors have even considered a bold move.

“Gill has been groomed as a long-term leader for a while. But the selectors are wary of his record away from home. With Pant going through a lean patch, the selectors may not want to burden him with more responsibility. The selectors have been considering a drastic step like South Africa did with Graeme Smith in 2003,” the source said.

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