Facing cummins

The Boxing Day Test: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has raised serious concerns about India captain Rohit Sharma's place in the Test team amidst his prolonged slump in form after India suffered a 184 run defeat in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Pathan suggested that Rohit’s current inclusion in the playing XI owes more to his role as captain than his performances with the bat. His remarks come as the cricketing world debates Rohit’s future in the longest format following another string of poor scores in the ongoing 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Rohit’s batting woes have been a significant factor in India’s underwhelming campaign against Australia. Across five innings in the series, the 37-year-old has managed a paltry 31 runs at an average of 6.20, including two ducks. This is the second-lowest series average for a top-six batter in Test cricket history for India in Australia.