Rohit Sharma's Captaincy and Playing Period - Retirement Now

The last performances by Rohit Sharma in Test cricket have left many a fan and critic to doubt whether the Indian man would survive much longer in the team. The scores of 6, 5, 23, 8, 2, 52, 0, 8, 18, 3, 6, 10, 3 in his last 14 innings mean that the Indian captain has been pretty bad. The 155 runs at an average of 11.07 has made many ask the question whether it is the right time for the Mumbaikar to retire. His failures cannot be explained by one or two poor innings but a successive series of disappointing performances have led to growing calls for his removal. Once the match-winner, Rohit is now being heavily scrutinized as India goes through a difficult phase.

Following India's victory in the ICC T20 World Cup in the West Indies, everyone hailed his leadership and batting skills. But now that he is failing consistently, those same voices are asking for his exit. The question is not just his batting form, but his leadership and what the performances do to the Indian team. His batting style, which used to be a joy to watch, now feels a burden, both for him and for the team.

The performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series has only added to the concern. His dismissal in the first innings of the fourth test at the MCG by Pat Cummins was such a stark reminder of where he has fallen. Such a shot to get him out for just three runs did not make any sense-the shot was nothing short of a disaster. This is not an isolated incident; in fact, it is part of a spate of poor form from several months. His intent at the crease is lacking, reports of hard work in nets notwithstanding. Numbers don't lie. Rohit was not able to deliver himself, and his fidgeting with his batting position made things worse for the rest of the team.

Capitans are the nucleus of any cricket team; when the captain is getting out of form, how well the team is functioning as a whole is going to be questioned. Rohit's inability to lead by example has been glaring, and his decision to drop Shubman Gill for the fourth Test by citing the young opener's form seems hypocritical when compared with his own miserable run with the bat. There is this feeling that he is playing for himself rather than the team, a mistake that would have serious consequences for the Indian squad.

This is not a matter of one bad inning or two. His fall has been slow-smoldering, going way back to the Test played at Bengaluru against New Zealand. He was brought in back into the side when he returned from a paternity break. He seemed set for a comeback only it has turned out otherwise as his batting has became liability. Critics have pointed out his lack of commitment and questioned whether his mind is truly focused on the game.

Even leadership qualities are being questioned. Rohit, who once guided India to a famous Test win in Perth, is now being criticized for not inspiring his team. His choices on and off the field seem to lack freshness and innovation at a point where Indian cricket badly needs it. His poor form has marred his leadership, and with the team in transition, he should perhaps retire and pave way for a new captaincy.

An important lesson in the case of Ravichandran Ashwin is that he stepped down from his career after a brilliant one, realizing that the time to be in the team had come to an end. Rohit should really take a hard look at it. Perhaps it is time he learns that his time to lead has gone by and he needs to take the mature call to retire with grace rather than dragging himself further into decline.

The real question is whether the Indian team can afford to continue carrying a player whose form has faltered for so long. It is high time that the team takes decisions when things are not right in their favor, be it ending the career of one player who has so long given his best to India. Rohit Sharma was a hero of Indian cricket in his time, and the hard reality now stands out: his time with the Indian team may be nearing the end. It is time for him to follow Ashwin into the exit door when his presence is no longer adding value.

Rohit Sharma's downfall as a player and as a leader is a very painful reminder of how quickly things can change in the world of cricket. The man who once guided India to victory in the ICC World Cup is now a shadow of his former self. It's a very hard reality, but sometimes the best decision is to walk away before your reputation is tarnished beyond repair.