Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has voiced his support for Rohit Sharma amid the skipper’s ongoing batting slump. As speculation grows about Rohit being dropped for the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney, Pathan has urged him to confront the challenge head-on.
Irfan Pathan Back Rohit Sharma
Speaking on Star Sports, Pathan made an emotional appeal to the Indian captain. “Meri yeh guzarish rahegi Rohit Sharma se. Aap bilkul bhi yeh situation se bhagiye mat. Zaroor aapka balla nahi chal raha. Hum bhi keh rahe hai. Sab maan rahe hai, aap bhi maan rahe hai. Lekin aap ladai kariye. Apne bohot run banaye (My request to Rohit Sharma is to not run away from this situation. He is not scoring. We are saying this. Everyone is acknowledging it, and so is he. But I want him to fight. He has scored many runs).”
Pathan expressed his desire to see Rohit bounce back and play a pivotal role in India’s quest for victory in the series decider. “Mai dekhna chahunga Rohit Sharma iss situation mai aake ladai kare aur uss daur se bahar nikalne ki koshish kare aur team ko jeet dilaye (I want to see Rohit fight in this situation, try to come out of the rough patch, and lead the team to victory).”
Rohit’s Form Under Scrutiny
Rohit Sharma’s form has been a major talking point throughout the series. Despite returning to the side after missing the Perth Test, he has struggled to make an impact. With just 31 runs across five innings, his average has plummeted to a worrying 6.20. These numbers have intensified debates about his place in the playing XI for the Sydney Test, which begins on January 3.
Irfan Pathan also weighed in on India’s team composition for the final Test. He believes that any significant changes to the playing XI should have been made earlier in the series. “Playing XI mai na iss match se pehle change hone chahiye the jo Melbourne ka tha. Ab dikkat yeh hai ki last match hai. Last match mai aap agar bohot zyada badlav karenge toh dikkat hogi (The changes in the playing XI should have been made before the Melbourne Test. Now the problem is that it’s the last match. Making too many changes now will cause issues),” he said.
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He suggested one possible adjustment: Shubman Gill replacing Rohit Sharma. “Ek hi toh badlav kar sakte hai. Shubman Gill andar aaye aur Rohit Sharma jo form mai nahi hai woh bahar jaye (There’s only one change you can make. Shubman Gill comes in and Rohit Sharma, who is not in form, steps out).”
Stakes High for India
The Sydney Test is a must-win for India to level the series 2-2 and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While Rohit’s leadership has been under fire, his experience and resilience could still prove vital.
With Pathan’s call for Rohit to rise to the occasion, the spotlight is firmly on the captain. Will he fight back and deliver a match-winning performance? Or will India opt for fresh changes in their bid to conquer Sydney? The answers await at the SCG.
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