On the eve of India’s three-match ODI series against England, captain Rohit Sharma found himself momentarily taken aback by a reporter’s question regarding his recent struggles in Test cricket and whether they had dented his confidence in the white-ball format. Without hesitation, Rohit countered with a question of his own before calmly addressing the matter, making it clear that he wasn’t dwelling on past performances.
During the press conference in Nagpur, the journalist asked, “Hi, Rohit. Confident, going out to bat in a format where you are nicknamed ‘Hitman’ despite not getting too many runs in the Test format?”
A surprised Rohit Sharma, letting out a chuckle, responded, “What kind of question is that? This is a different format, a different time. As cricketers, we know there will be ups and downs—I have gone through it a lot. Every day is a fresh start, every series is a new challenge. I’m looking forward to what’s ahead instead of worrying about the past. Clearly, you don’t,” he added with a smirk. “For me, there’s no reason to keep looking back. It’s about focusing on what’s coming up, and I want to start this series on a high.”
Rohit’s struggles in the latter half of 2024 have been well-documented. His form in Test cricket dipped significantly, and India suffered consecutive series defeats against New Zealand and Australia under his captaincy. Speculation even arose regarding his future in the longest format, with calls for him to step aside. The situation escalated when he withdrew from the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney, further fueling discussions about his Test career.
However, with the ODI series against England now on the horizon, Rohit has an opportunity to reset. The limited-overs format has long been his forte, and these upcoming matches provide a chance for him to reclaim his rhythm and silence the doubters.
