Haren
Rohit Sharma firmly stated he is not retiring from the game, after he “stood down” from the Sydney Test purely because his batting form hasn’t been good. In a freewheeling interview with Star Sports during the lunch-time show in Sydney on Day 2, Rohit said his decision to sit out of Sydney was difficult but sensible, but that doesn’t change anything for his future.
“Like I told you this decision is not a retirement decision nor am I going to step aside from the game, there is no such decision. I am out of the game because bat nahi chal raha hai,” Rohit said. “There is no guarantee that the bat will not work after five months, there is no guarantee that the bat will not work after two months. We have seen a lot in cricket, every minute. every second, everyday life changes. So I have this belief in myself that things will change but at the same time you know I have to be realistic as well.”
The Indian captain for this series said no one from the outside can dictate when he should step aside from the game.
“Someone is sitting inside with a mic or a laptop or a pen, what he writes, what he says, our life does not change because of that. We have played this game for so many years, so they cannot decide when we should go or when we should not play or when we have to sit out or when we should captain. Sensible aadmi hoon, mature aadmi hoon, do bachhon ka baap hoon, mere paas thoda sa dimaag hai! (I am a sensible man, I am a mature man, I am a father of two kids, so I have a little bit of brain.)”
After his lean run of form with the bat, The Indian Express had reported on Thursday that Rohit won’t be featuring in Sydney. It is understood that the selectors had a word with Rohit and told him he is not being looked at beyond the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy. But of course, the decision to retire would be a personal one. As he walked off from the interview, he quipped once more: “main kahin ja nahin raha. Idhar hi hun.” I am not going anywhere, he said.
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