The 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) proved to be a bitter chapter in Indian cricket’s red-ball journey. India not only failed to reclaim the trophy from Australia but also suffered a blow to their ICC World Test Championship (WTC) campaign, missing out on the 2025 final for the first time in three cycles. While defending champions Australia marched into the title clash alongside South Africa, India’s campaign was derailed by poor form across key players — most notably captain Rohit Sharma.
Rohit’s struggles in the series became a focal point for criticism, with the opener managing just 164 runs in eight Tests throughout 2024, averaging a dismal 6.20 in the three BGT matches he played. The underwhelming performance led to questions about his place in the XI, with many suggesting he would not have retained his spot if he weren’t the captain.
Former India pacer Irfan Pathan recently addressed these accusations in a video on Lallantop. A teaser clip featured Pathan bluntly stating, “Rohit Sharma is a fantastic white-ball player, but in Tests that year, his average was 6. If he was not the captain, he would not have had a place in the team — and this is the truth.”
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The controversy deepened after Rohit opted to drop himself from the Sydney Test, a move he later explained was in the team’s best interest. During an interview with Pathan and broadcaster Jatin Sapru, some fans accused the duo of going soft on the skipper. Pathan, however, dismissed those claims, saying, “When someone is your guest on a broadcast, you treat them with respect. We were polite to Rohit, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t speak the truth. We clearly said he shouldn’t have been in the XI if not for his captaincy.”
Irfan Pathan on Rohit Sharma interview in BGT pic.twitter.com/B0BvdBVKNn
— CricketAdda🇮🇳 (@Criktalks) August 13, 2025
Rohit himself admitted to Pathan and Sapru that his form slump was harming the team. “Runs aren’t coming, it’s an important match, and we can’t carry too many out-of-form players,” he said. “This was a tough decision, but it was the right one for the team.”
Following heavy criticism from fans, media, and former players, Rohit stepped down as India’s Test captain and eventually announced his retirement from the longest format during the IPL 2025 season. However, his career didn’t end on a low. In true champion style, he bounced back in white-ball cricket, guiding India to victory in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy with impactful performances at the top of the order.
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Rohit’s Test exit was soon followed by another emotional farewell — Virat Kohli, too, called time on his red-ball career after enduring his own form struggles. The twin retirements marked the end of an era for Indian Test cricket, closing a chapter dominated by two of the modern game’s most celebrated batting icons.
