Gavaskar Says Rohit and Kohli's Test Careers Rely on Selectors' Decision

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has voiced concerns about Rohit Sharma's role in India's Test cricket future, particularly for the 2027 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

Gavaskar believes that at 37, Rohit might not fit into India’s long-term Test plans. By the time the 2027 cycle culminates, Rohit would be 41, making his inclusion as a player and captain unlikely.

The BCCI and selectors might look towards some of the younger leadership options that could guide the team through the next WTC phase.

Gavaskar felt while talking to India Today in an exclusive interaction, Rohit Sharma's non availability in the Ongoing Sydney test (SCG) against Australia may already provide the signal ahead of time on the lines stated above. India can do little and anything to survive to play another WTC Qualifier Test should they lose it and will actually hasten more conversations to readjust for appointing a full-time captain by the start of the next WTC cycle.

"My feeling is that, because the new World Test Championship cycle starts from July, with a series in England, there are no test matches now between the end of this Test match (SCG Test) and that Test match. If India does not qualify for the WTC Final, then I think that the selection committee will want to look, not just at Rohit Sharma, but at some others. They might be saying, 'look, are they going to be available for the 2027 World Test Championship Final?' In case India does well in the next two years. So that should be the selection committees' thinking. And so I think maybe Rohit Sharma, being almost 38 year-old, will not be fitting into their plans because he would be 40-years-old then," Gavaskar said.

The SCG Test started with a bang as Rohit Sharma was "rested" and paved the way for Jasprit Bumrah to take over as the stand-in skipper. The move did not go unnoticed, and many were left wondering about Rohit's recent form and his ability to lead the team. Controversy apart, Bumrah stood by Rohit at the toss and showered praise on his unselfish decision to sit out. Bumrah referred to Rohit as "our captain" and stated that the move was in the best interest of the team.

But Day 1 really exposed India to their batting frailties. The team was all bowled out for a miserable 185, courtesy to Australia's disciplined seam attack. There was little show, with the likes of Virat Kohli scoring only 17 runs off 69 balls, falling all over again to the "corridor of uncertainty."

Bumrah, playing both as captain and bowler, brought a spark to the day late in the day. He dismissed the out-of-form Usman Khawaja for 2 with a fiery delivery, giving India a glimmer of hope.

Adding to the drama, Bumrah exchanged heated words with teenage Australian sensation Sam Konstas, who responded with a boundary on his first ball faced.

As the SCG Test continues, Gavaskar's comments about Rohit Sharma's future will only fuel further discussions on India's leadership and the direction the team takes post-2023.