New Delhi: India’s captain Rohit Sharma has expressed his desire to continue playing Test cricket, but his recent performances have raised doubts. During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Rohit struggled with the bat, contributing to India’s 1-3 loss to Australia. His poor form led to him being benched for the final Test in Sydney. While the 37-year-old has reiterated his commitment to Test cricket, former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar believes that this commitment must be evident in his on-field performances.
Rohit Sharma has received advice from several quarters, including India coach Gautam Gambhir, to participate in the Ranji Trophy, though he has not confirmed his plans. During a discussion on Star Sports, Sanjay Bangar pointed out that players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, who were sidelined from the Indian Test team, have demonstrated their hunger for red-ball cricket by consistently featuring in the Ranji Trophy. Bangar emphasized that such commitment is essential for players aiming to make a return to the national squad.
Sanjay Bangar reflected on Rohit Sharma’s mindset, saying, “At 37, every failure hits harder for a cricketer. When a player sees past performances and struggles to replicate them, while young players are excelling, it can weigh heavily on his mind. This could be influencing his decision. Rohit needs to assess whether he still has the hunger to play Test cricket. If so, that hunger must be evident in his actions.”
Sanjay Bangar further emphasized, “There’s been much discussion about playing domestic cricket. Players like Pujara and Rahane, who are of similar stature to Rohit Sharma, have been dropped but have shown their hunger by playing at the domestic level. Even now, they’re grinding it out in domestic cricket, a stark contrast to the intensity of international play. Rohit has made it clear that he still wants to play for India, saying, ‘I am not going anywhere; I still want to play.’ If he backs that up with strong performances in domestic cricket, no one can stop him. However, his form and hunger must be evident.”
Rohit Sharma has received a pointed reminder to return to domestic cricket following his recent struggles in red-ball formats. Former cricketer Sanjay Bangar highlighted how Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, both sidelined from the Test team, have consistently showcased their hunger for cricket by playing domestic cricket. Bangar stressed that if Rohit is serious about continuing his Test career, he must demonstrate that same drive and commitment by performing at the domestic level, just like his counterparts.
Rohit Sharma has received advice from several quarters, including India coach Gautam Gambhir, to play in the Ranji Trophy, though he has yet to confirm his participation. In a discussion on Star Sports, Sanjay Bangar reminded Rohit that even stalwarts like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, who were dropped from India’s Test team, have demonstrated their hunger for red-ball cricket by regularly featuring in the Ranji Trophy. Bangar emphasized that such commitment is essential for players aiming to make a comeback to the national squad.
Sanjay Bangar highlighted the emotional challenge of being a 37-year-old cricketer, saying, “Every failure hurts because a cricketer is very proud of their achievements. When you look at past performances that you can’t replicate, and see young players excelling, it weighs heavily on your mind. This could have influenced Rohit’s decision. He needs to assess if he still has the hunger to play Test cricket. If he does, that hunger must be reflected in his actions, both on and off the field.”
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