NEW DELHI, Jan 3, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - 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.

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.

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.

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.

As a youngster Rohit studied on a scholarship because his family was unable
to afford monthly fees of a few dollars.

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.

He is also the only batsman to have scored three double-centuries in one-day
internationals.

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.

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.

He had called his performances "disturbing" while there was also mounting
criticism about his decisions as captain.

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.

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.

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.

"Rohit, because of captaincy and reputation... managed to hang on longer than
he should have," the Times of India wrote.

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.

"If I was selector, I'd say: Rohit Sharma, thank you for your service," Waugh
said.

- 'Hero' -

Rohit was also way below his brilliant best in the 3-0 Test series whitewash
at home to New Zealand in November.

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.

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.

A five-time IPL winner for Mumbai Indians, Rohit took over the captaincy of
the white-ball national team in 2021 from Virat Kohli.

A year later, Rohit became Test skipper too.

He left a lasting legacy in the shortest format, having featured in all nine
editions of the T20 World Cup.

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.

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.

But his Test record is less prolific -- 4,301 runs and 12 centuries in 67
matches at an average just a shade over 40.

His recent shortcomings have not detracted from Rohit's stature around the
world.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has lauded him as the "man who has
changed the culture" of the India team -- and a "genuine hero".