Irfan Pathan Questions Rohit Sharma’s Place in Playing XI

Pathan suggests Rohit’s captaincy is shielding him from exclusion despite his poor batting performances in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Melbourne [Australia], December 31: Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has raised concerns over Rohit Sharma’s prolonged struggle with form, suggesting that the Indian captain’s spot in the playing XI seems more secured by his leadership role than by his current batting contributions.

Speaking on Star Sports, Pathan didn’t hold back while assessing Rohit’s recent performances.
“A player who has made about 20,000 runs–yet the way Rohit is struggling now, it seems his form is not supporting him at all,” Pathan remarked.

Captaincy Over Performance?

Pathan went on to suggest that, under normal circumstances, Sharma might not have been included in the playing XI purely on merit.
“What’s happening now is that he is the captain, so he is playing. If he were not the captain, he might not be playing right now. You would have had a set team. K.L. Rahul would have been playing at the top. Jaiswal would have been there. Shubman Gill would have been there,” he said.

The former all-rounder further highlighted the visible disconnect in Rohit’s game, attributing his struggles to both mental and physical factors.
“Whether it is his mindset or the coordination with his body, I can’t see that at all,” Pathan added.

Rohit Sharma’s Underwhelming Series Stats

Rohit Sharma’s struggles have been evident in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, where he has managed to score just 31 runs in five innings at an average of 6.20. His last outing in the Melbourne Test encapsulated his struggles—after cautiously playing 40 deliveries for just 9 runs, Rohit fell to Pat Cummins, edging a delivery to Mitchell Marsh at gully.

Pathan’s Frustration with Rohit’s Batting

Pathan expressed his disappointment in witnessing Rohit fail to deliver despite his immense talent.
“Whenever I see Rohit Sharma bat, I always want to see him bat—whether it is Test cricket or one-day cricket. But now, his form, the way he is going forward, I can’t see that spark anymore,” Pathan said.

India’s Series Setback

India’s 184-run defeat in the Boxing Day Test has pushed them to a 2-1 series deficit against Australia, significantly affecting their chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s in 2025.

The Indian team, despite moments of brilliance, failed to capitalize on key opportunities, with missed catches and inconsistent batting performances haunting them throughout the Test.

As the series moves to Sydney for the final Test, the pressure will mount on Rohit Sharma—not just as a captain but as a batter—to lead from the front and deliver a performance worthy of his stature.