Rohit Sharma rose from humble beginnings to captain India but he was axed Friday for the decisive fifth Test against Australia to nudge the "Hitman" closer to retirement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Even before the out-of-form opening batsman was dropped for the crucial Sydney clash, Indian media had speculated that Rohit could retire from Test cricket after the series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 37-year-old quit T20 international cricket last year after lifting the World Cup. He is yet to call time on his ODI career.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
If this is it for Rohit in Tests -- the team insisted he was "rested" -- it would be an ignominious late chapter in the career of the Indian great.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
As a youngster Rohit studied on a scholarship because his family was unable to afford monthly fees of a few dollars.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He overcame all odds to become a cricketing superstar, especially in the white-ball game, his feats including taking his country to World Cup glory in 2024.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He is also the only batsman to have scored three double-centuries in one-day internationals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Prior to his drop-off in form, Rohit gave India real firepower at the top of the innings and his selfless approach allowed the rest of the batsmen to play freely.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But the man dubbed the "Hitman" for getting to big scores quickly in spectacular style failed to get past 10 runs in any of his five innings in Australia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He had called his performances "disturbing" while there was also mounting criticism about his decisions as captain.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rohit missed the first Test in Perth for the birth of his second child, with Jasprit Bumrah assuming the captaincy and playing a starring role with the ball in a big India win.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With India trailing 2-1 in the series, vice-captain Bumrah was named to lead the team at the Sydney Cricket Ground as the visitors battle to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Indian media have noted with mocking that Rohit's 31 runs in three Tests is only one more than the 30 wickets that Bumrah has racked up.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Rohit, because of captaincy and reputation... managed to hang on longer than he should have," the Times of India wrote.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mark Waugh, the former Australia batsman, said during the fourth Test in Melbourne -- which the hosts won by 184 runs -- that it was time for Rohit to go.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"If I was selector, I'd say: Rohit Sharma, thank you for your service," Waugh said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- 'Hero' -<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rohit was also way below his brilliant best in the 3-0 Test series whitewash at home to New Zealand in November.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Just months before that, he lifted the World Cup in Barbados after India edged out South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling final to finally deliver the cricket-crazy nation a global title again.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rohit signed off as India's highest scorer in the shortest format, plundering 4,231 runs including five centuries in 159 matches since his T20 debut in 2007.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A five-time IPL winner for Mumbai Indians, Rohit took over the captaincy of the white-ball national team in 2021 from Virat Kohli.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A year later, Rohit became Test skipper too.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He left a lasting legacy in the shortest format, having featured in all nine editions of the T20 World Cup.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He was part of M.S. Dhoni's winning team in the inaugural event in 2007, before clinching his second T20 crown 17 years later.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rohit, who has been criticised for not having the athletic physique of some other players, has also amassed 10,709 runs at an average of over 49 in 262 ODIs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But his Test record is less prolific -- 4,301 runs and 12 centuries in 67 matches at an average just a shade over 40.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
His recent shortcomings have not detracted from Rohit's stature around the world.<\/p>\r\n\r\n