Ricky Ponting claims Rohit Sharma’s Test career is over

Former Australian national cricket team skipper Ricky Ponting spoke of the omission of Rohit Sharma of India XI for the ongoing Sydney Test. He said he expected the resentment and now it would be hard for him to come back.

Rohit Sharma’s last in Test cricket was probably in Melbourne as the Indian national cricket team skipper was dropped from the squad in the last ongoing match. The captain reportedly rested amid his poor form and took the decision in the best interest of the team.

Rohit Sharma has looked torrid with the bat in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The India captain has struggled with his form and has been averaging around 10 in the match serieswhich speaks volumes for his poor outings with the bat in the longest format of the game.

Rohit Sharma was replaced by Shubman Gill who was recalled from MCG to accommodate the captain at the top. In his absence, jasprit bumrah he’s leading the team and there’s a good chance he’ll take over the Tests job permanently.

You might think it’s probably a long way back for Rohit Sharma now in this format of the game – Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting feels Rohit Sharma’s omission was on the cards, adding it will be a long road back for him. While speaking to ICC about the development, he explained:

“I think the reaction has been that everyone was hoping it might happen. The talk has been over the last few days that everyone was hoping that Rohit wouldn’t play this game, that Shubman Gill would come back and that (Jasprit) Bumrah would probably take over again of the captaincy and that’s how it turned out.”

“I think it’s probably a long way back for Rohit Sharma now in this format of the game. India don’t play a Test match, I think, until mid-to-late June, which is a long way off when you get to the end of your career.”

I think it’s going to be a long, and probably tough, road back for him, Ricky Ponting to Rohit Sharma

Ricky Ponting further praised Rohit as a fantastic player for India but mentioned that he is at a stage in his career where a comeback will be difficult. He added:

“I think he’s been a fantastic player for India, so with guys like that, you wish them all the best and hope to see them again, but like I said, I think it’s going to be a long road and probably difficult. – Come back for him.”

So the way they’ve drafted it, you can just take it at face value: Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting spoke further on reports of Rohit pulling out of the game, saying he was surprised by the comment. He added that it was an interesting call by the team to leave the captain out in an important match. He explained:

“I was very surprised when I heard the term ‘ban’ coming into such an important match. We know he has been a big stalwart for Indian cricket for a long period of time.

“So the way they’ve drafted it, you can only take it at face value. We have to believe what we’re hearing from the Indian camp, but because it’s such a big game, knowing that they have to win this one to retain the trophy, it was an interesting moment for one of their most experienced players to switch off.”

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