Ravi Shastri Reveals How He Would Have Handled Rohit’s Test Exit

Former Head Coach Ravi Shastri disclosed what he told Rohit Sharma during one of the IPL matches. He said that he would’ve ensured Rohit’s presence in the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy test against Australia.

Rohit Sharma, on May 7, took to his Instagram to announce his retirement from test cricket. He ended his career having played 67 matches, scoring 4.301 runs at an average of 40.57. This impressive record features 12 centuries and a career best score of 212.

Shastri Would’ve Advocated For Rohit

Shastri revealed the conversation he had with Rohit, a few days before the latter’s test retirement announcement. Shastri stated that if he were in charge, Rohit would have played the final test against Australia in Sydney.

After missing the first test in Perth due to the birth of his son, he returned and scored only 31 runs in the next three tests. That resulted in Rohit sitting out on the last test of the series.

“I saw Rohit a lot at the toss (during an IPL match). At the toss, you don’t get enough time to speak. Though I did put my hand on his shoulder in one of the games. I think it was in Mumbai, and I told him, if I were the coach, you would have never not played that last Test match.”

“You would have played that last Test match because the series wasn’t over. And I’m not someone who threw in the towel with the scoreline 2-1. If your mindset is you feel you are… that’s not the stage, you leave a team,” said Shastri on The ICC Review show.

‘That series would have been level’

The series was at 2-1 at the time, with Australia leading. Shastri feels that if Rohit had played the final test, he could have scored a few runs to balance the series.

“That was a 30-40 run game, and that’s exactly what I told him. The pitch was so spicy in Sydney. Whatever kind of form he was in, he’s a match-winner.”

“If he had gone, sensed the situation, sensed the condition and smashed it for even 35-40 at the top, you never know. That series would have been level. But that’s each one to his own – Other people have different styles. This would have been my style, and I let him know it. It’s sitting in my heart for a long time. I had to get it out. And I told him that.”

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