Brisbane, Dec 18 (UNI) India captain Rohit Sharma addressed several pressing issues surrounding the team, including the future of veterans like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, the recovery of fast bowler Mohammad Shami, and the growing concerns about the form of India’s top-order batsmen here on Wednesday.
Asked whether the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Pujara and Rahane will be involved with the team in some capacity, Rohit responded with a blend of humour and pragmatism, saying, “Oh brother, Ashwin has just announced his retirement. You guys will drive me crazy! Those two (Pujara and Rahane) are still active and can come back anytime after performing.”
While his remark lightened the mood, it also highlighted an ongoing debate about the current state of India’s batting lineup, which has been under scrutiny. The India team has faced mounting pressure in recent times, particularly following their whitewash against New Zealand at home, where the batting performance was widely criticised.
Experienced players like Rohit, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and even Rishabh Pant have all faced struggles at the crease. This has led to growing speculation that the team’s senior players, including Rohit, may need to step aside if the team fails to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
Fans and experts alike have raised questions about the leadership and long-term future of these players, with many suggesting that Rohit should consider retirement after the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series if India doesn’t make it to the WTC final.
Rohit also addressed the issue of Mohammad Shami’s recovery from a knee injury. The 34-year-old pacer, who has been sidelined with fitness issues for months, has been a key player for India in the past. However, his international return has been delayed due to persistent knee swelling.
“I think it’s high time somebody from NCA (National Cricket Academy) talked about him. That’s our national cricket academy where he is rehabbing. Those guys are the ones who need to come up and give us some kind of update,” he said.
Rohit stressed the importance of ensuring Shami is fully fit before making a comeback, saying, “The last thing you want is the player coming here and then pulling out in the middle of the game. You know what happens when that kind of thing happens.”
He made it clear that the team is not willing to take any risks with Shami’s health, particularly at this stage of his career. “There’s no way we want to take that chance unless we are like, not a hundred percent, 200 percent sure. We’re not going to take any risk,” he explained.
However, despite these concerns, Shami will feature in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy for his domestic side Bengal, as he continues his recovery.
Shami has played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and a Ranji Trophy match this season, where he performed well without major discomfort. However, his knee issues remain a concern, and the Indian team management is focused on ensuring he is fully fit before considering his return to international cricket.
Shami’s injury troubles began earlier this year when he underwent surgery on his Achilles heel, causing him to miss key tournaments like the 2024 IPL and the T20 World Cup. He had hoped to return for the home Test series against Bangladesh, but was unable to regain full fitness in time. The fast bowler last played for India during the ODI World Cup final in November 2023, and has since struggled with recurring injuries.
