Rohit Sharma has had a tough time with his batting in Test cricket lately, but former Australia captain Michael Clarke believes he should still be considered for the upcoming tour of England. India is set to take on England in June for a five-match Test series, which will also kick off the new ICC World Test Championship cycle.
Rohit faced difficulties during India’s recent tour of Australia in 2024-25. He struggled to score runs and even decided to sit out the fifth and last Test of the series because he wasn’t happy with his form. In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, he played three Tests but could only manage 31 runs while opening the innings, leading to a 1-3 loss for India in the series.
Clarke thinks Rohit has the skills to still play well at a high level and has suggested that the 37-year-old might be better off batting in the middle order. In a chat on Backstage with Boria, Clarke stated, I think Rohit still has the game. He’s shown he can perform, especially in pressure situations like the Champions Trophy final. He’d be a great fit at No. 5. He could tackle the second new ball if required, and if India loses a few early wickets, he can help stabilize things. But we all know he loves to open, and he has the ability to handle the new ball too.
He went on to say that if he were one of the Indian selectors, he would pick Rohit as captain for the England series. So far, Rohit has played seven Tests in England, accumulating 524 runs with an average of 40.30, including one century and two half-centuries.
Rohit’s performance in the recent Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, followed by a disappointing tour of Australia, raised concerns about his future in red-ball cricket. However, there are suggestions that his recent triumph in the Champions Trophy in Dubai has given his Test career a new lease on life.
A source quoted by The Indian Express mentioned that Rohit has demonstrated his abilities and that everyone involved feels he’s the right choice to lead the Indian team on the tour of England. Rohit himself has shown excitement about continuing to play Test cricket, which indicates he’s not ready to hang up his boots just yet.
