Sourav Ganguly Expresses Concerns Over Rohit Sharma's Recent Test Form

Sourav Ganguly, former Indian cricket captain, has recently voiced his concerns regarding Rohit Sharma's form in Test cricket, especially over the past four to five years. Known for his strong opinions on Rohit's leadership and batting prowess in white-ball formats, Ganguly is now worried about the latter’s struggles in red-ball cricket.

A DECLINE IN FORM: GANGULY’S SURPRISING OBSERVATION

Despite Rohit’s outstanding achievements in limited-overs cricket, including his leadership and batting accolades, Ganguly pointed out that the star batsman’s performance in Tests has been underwhelming. In an interview with RevSportz, Ganguly remarked that he had been surprised by Rohit’s lacklustre form in the longer format of the game, citing that the talented player has the potential to perform much better than his recent numbers reflect.

"What has surprised me is his form in red-ball cricket over the past 4-5 years. A player of his stature and ability can do far better than he has shown. He needs to put his thinking cap on because we have a tough series against England coming up, with 5 Tests to play,"** Ganguly said. He further emphasized that the series against England will be challenging, with conditions likely to offer seam and swing, similar to the 2021 tour of Australia.

ROHIT SHARMA’S DUAL ROLE: A STAR IN WHITE-BALL CRICKET

While Ganguly expressed his concern about Rohit's form in Tests, he did acknowledge the Mumbai Indians captain’s excellence in limited-overs cricket, where he has established himself as one of the greatest players of the modern era.

“In white-ball cricket, Rohit is one of the greatest ever, but India needs him to deliver in the red-ball format as well,”** Ganguly added, underlining the importance of Rohit’s contribution in the upcoming Test series.

LEADERSHIP STATUS FOR THE UPCOMING ENGLAND TOUR

There is speculation regarding Rohit Sharma’s role as captain for India’s upcoming Test series against England, which begins on June 20. While the 2013 Champions Trophy victory elevated Rohit’s stature as a leader, leadership decisions are still pending, as Ajit Agarkar and his selection team have yet to reach a consensus on whether Rohit should automatically lead the team in the upcoming Tests. This uncertainty also stems from the fitness issues surrounding Jasprit Bumrah and the absence of a clear next-in-line leadership candidate.

Although Rohit’s leadership in white-ball cricket has been widely lauded, there are still questions about his effectiveness in the Test format, especially given his recent underperformance.

ROHIT SHARMA’S PERFORMANCE IN TESTS: A MIXED BAG

Rohit Sharma has played seven Tests in England, amassing 524 runs at an average of 40.3, with only one century to his name. While his numbers are decent, they are not reflective of the explosive potential that Rohit possesses, making his future in Test cricket a topic of ongoing debate.

With the Test series against England approaching, all eyes will be on Rohit to see if he can regain his form and lead India successfully in the longer format.