India’s Test captain Rohit Sharma has offered a candid explanation behind his bold and much-debated decision to exclude himself from the playing XI in the fifth and final Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney. Speaking to Michael Clarke on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, Rohit spoke at length about his form slump, the internal discussions with head coach Gautam Gambhir and selector Ajit Agarkar, and why stepping aside was a move made in the team’s best interest.

Coming off one of the leanest patches in his storied career, Rohit endured a nightmare run during the 2024-25 season, scoring just 164 runs from 15 innings at a dismal average of 10.83. His struggles weren’t isolated either — a forgettable home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, followed by inconsistent returns in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, left questions swirling around his form and position in the side.

After missing the opening Test in Perth due to paternity leave, Rohit returned in Adelaide but gave up his usual opening role to allow the in-form pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul to continue at the top. Their 201-run partnership in the first Test was crucial, and Rohit chose to slot himself at No. 6 — a position where he looked completely out of rhythm.

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“I wasn’t hitting the ball well. I didn’t want to play for the sake of it,” Rohit Sharma admitted. “There were already a few players struggling, and I didn’t want to add to that. We wanted Gill to play. He had missed out earlier. I thought it was better for the team.”

Despite internal debate, Gambhir and Agarkar eventually respected Rohit’s selfless call. “They kind of agreed and didn’t agree,” he said. “But I’ve always believed in putting the team first. Since taking over as captain, that’s the mindset I’ve tried to instill — to not think about personal scores but to do what’s best for the team.”

Rohit’s form had plummeted — he scored just 10 runs in Brisbane and was dismissed cheaply again in Melbourne. When Shubman Gill was recalled for the final Test, Rohit voluntarily stepped aside. His series tally stood at a mere 31 runs in three matches.

With rumours swirling about a possible Test retirement, Rohit Sharma dismissed any such notions. “Retirement? No, not thinking about it,” he clarified during a mid-series interview. He also offered insights into his decision-making around batting positions. “I like opening, that’s where I belong. When I saw Rahul and Jaiswal batting so well, I didn’t want to disrupt that. Even though I was holding my newborn, I was glued to the TV watching that partnership in Perth,” Rohit said with a smile.

Following the Adelaide failure, Rohit returned to the top in the third Test. “I thought — this is my spot, I need to back myself even if I fail. It didn’t work, but I was okay with it because I was being true to myself.” Looking ahead, Rohit is eager to be part of the five-Test series in England starting June 20. “The last time we played, it ended 2-2. We want to go there with a fully fit squad — especially Bumrah and Shami. IPL can be taxing even though it’s just four overs per match. The real challenge is the constant travel. Hopefully, everyone gets through it fresh.”

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However, Rohit’s current IPL form has done little to silence critics. He has managed just 55 runs in five matches for Mumbai Indians this season, without a single score crossing 20. Yet, as ever, the veteran opener remains grounded and focused on the bigger picture. As his leadership philosophy shows, Rohit may be enduring a tough stretch personally, but his eyes remain firmly on team success — a mindset that might still pay off handsomely in England later this summer.