Brisbane, Dec 18 (FN Bureau) India captain Rohit Sharma addressed several pressing issues surrounding the cricket team on Wednesday, including the future of veterans like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, the recovery of fast bowler Mohammad Shami, and the ongoing concerns about the form of India’s top-order batsmen. When asked about the potential involvement of players like Ravichandran Ashwin, Pujara, and Rahane with the team, Rohit combined humour with pragmatism. “Oh brother, Ashwin has just announced his retirement. You guys will drive me crazy! Those two (Pujara and Rahane) are still active and can come back anytime after performing,” he remarked with a smile. Reflecting on the camaraderie shared with his former teammates, Rohit added, “When you play so much cricket together and then see these boys leaving one by one, it does stir up some feelings. But we cannot do anything about it. We remain friends and will always be friends, even though they don’t travel with us anymore. Rahane is in Mumbai, so we meet quite often.
Pujara, however, is always hiding in Rajkot, but we still manage to catch up.”Highlighting their contributions, Rohit said, “They have scored so many runs and helped India win so many matches, so obviously, they will be missed. By the way, Rahane has not announced his retirement yet. You guys will get me into trouble. Pujara hasn’t announced his retirement either. They are just not here right now. They’re always welcome, and the doors are open for them.” His light-hearted comments managed to bring some levity to an otherwise serious discussion.Rohit’s remarks also brought attention to the ongoing debate about India’s struggling batting lineup. The team has faced significant scrutiny, particularly following their recent whitewash against New Zealand at home, where the batting performance came under severe criticism. Senior players such as Rohit himself, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant have all struggled to find form, exacerbating concerns about India’s top order. Pujara and Rahane, with over 12,000 runs in 188 Tests, have been vital to India’s middle order but were recently replaced due to inconsistent performances. Rahane’s domestic revival strengthens his comeback prospects, while Pujara’s mixed form—strong in County cricket but inconsistent domestically, keeps the debate alive on their potential to stabilise India’s batting. As India looks to address these challenges, Rohit’s openness about the team’s issues and his support for veteran players underscore the importance of balancing experience with the need to nurture emerging talent.