Australian legend Mark Waugh has issued a stern warning to Rohit Sharma, saying that the Indian captain has only one innings to save his Test career.

Waugh’s comment came in the wake of Rohit’s terrible run with the bat and criticism over his captaincy in the ongoing Australia tour.

Notably, Rohit averages only 26.39 from 13 Tests in 2024. The 37-year-old missed the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test due to the birth of his second child. He returned to lead the side in the pink-ball Test at the Adelaide Oval, but failed to make a mark with the bat.

Rohit moved down the order to retain the successful opening partnership of KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, the decision backfired as he managed to score just nine runs across the two innings in Adelaide.

During the rain-marred third Test at the Gabba, Sharma continued to bat at No. 6 and scored only 10 runs in the only innings that he played.

Despite his return to the opening spot in the ongoing Boxing Day Test at MCG, Rohit’s lean patch continued as he fell for just 3 runs in the first innings.

Apart from his poor batting form, Rohit has also come under scrutiny over his captaincy across the last three Tests. Under his leadership, India also suffered their first-ever 0-3 whitewash on home soil against New Zealand last month.

Speaking to Fox Cricket, Mark Waugh said had he been the Indian selector, he would have told Rohit that the second innings in Melbourne would be his final chance to prolong his Test career.

Waugh advocated for Jasprit Bumrah to take over India’s Test captaincy in the fifth and final match at SCG if Rohit fails.

"If I was a selector now, it depends what happens in the second innings, but if he doesn't make runs in the second innings and we go to Sydney in a crucial Test match, I'd be saying 'Rohit thank you for your service, you've been a great player, but we're going to bring in Jasprit Bumrah as captain for the SCG and that's the end of your career'," Waugh said.

"... it'd be a very tough way for Rohit Sharma to go ... his last 14 innings' he's averages 11, so the signs are there that he's past his best. It happens to all players. All great players come to an end at some stage."

When former Australian batter Michael Hussey asked if Rohit Sharma needs to be asked where he is mentally and physically amid this woeful run, Waugh replied by highlighting his recent stats.

"I don't think you have to say 'where are you at?' You can see where he's at," he said.

"The numbers don't lie. They've had a few tough wickets to bat on previous to this tour in India but you just see even his movement in the field (is not good). Even tactically he's been off the pace as well and he gets a used by date, everyone does.

"I think they've given him that leniency already because he's been a great player for India.

"At some stage that leniency has got to stop and it stops after this Test match unless he makes runs in the second innings."