Rohit Sharma’s woeful run of form in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy continued despite his return to the opening spot for the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the MCG.

The Indian skipper, who batted at No. 6 in the last two Tests, managed to score only 3 runs in the first innings and followed up with another single-digit score of 9 on Monday (December 30). He was dismissed by his Australian counterpart Pat Cummins once again in the second essay.

Rohit's average after the twin failures in Melbourne stood at 6.20, the lowest-ever for a touring captain in a Test series Down Under (minimum five innings). The record previously belonged to West Indies pace legend Courtney Walsh, who had recorded an average of just 7.75 in the 1996/97 tour of Australia.

After this monumental debacle, fans on social media brutally attacked Rohit Sharma as "Happy Retirement" began trending on X.

Here are the reactions:

Notably, Rohit Sharma averages 24.76 after 14 Tests this year. He has amassed 619 runs from 26 innings with two hundreds and as many half-centuries.

Earlier, Australian legend 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.

In case of failure, Waugh had advocated for Jasprit Bumrah to take over India’s Test captaincy in the fifth and final match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

"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 remarked.

"... 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."