BCCI's selection panel, led by Ajit Agarkar, was reportedly unaware of Rohit Sharma's decision to retire from Tests, announced on Wednesday (May 7) via social media.
The big announcement came a day after a meeting at the board’s headquarters in Mumbai, which had all the top names except for Rohit and head coach Gautam Gambhir, Cricbuzz reported.
BCCI president Roger Binny, secretary Devajit Saikia and GM Abey Kuruvilla were among those present for the inauguration of the Sachin Tendulkar Room and Sunil Gavaskar Room.
The fact that Mumbai Indians were facing Gujarat Titans in the evening at the Wankhede Stadium explains Rohit’s absence.
According to the report, Rohit sent an email to the top BCCI officials on Wednesday evening. Around the time his Instagram story surfaced, Agarkar was seen speaking on the phone at the Cricket Club of India.
Rohit’s red-ball future came under severe scrutiny after he managed just 31 runs in five innings at an abysmal average of 6.20 during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 -- the lowest by a touring captain on Australian soil. He also stepped aside from the fifth Test at SCG due to poor form.
With India set to tour England for a five-match Test series next month, Rohit ended the speculations by calling time on his Test career. However, it has raised questions about the reason for the sudden step.
According to the report, the selectors discussed the England series on Tuesday, but it remains unclear whether they deliberated on the leadership or not.
The report further stated that a decision on Rohit would have been taken a week ahead of the Test squad selection, which is expected to be around May 20, exactly a month before the marquee series get underway.
Earlier, it was reported that Rohit will take a call on his Test future based on the outcome of his IPL 2025 season. While he has played a couple of match-winning knocks, his overall performance didn’t set the IPL stage on fire.
Whether it was a personal decision to retire or because of an advice from someone outside the team will remain unknown. It is worth noting here that, the contracts of some members of the Indian team’s support staff, believed to be close to Rohit (Abhishek Nayar), weren’t renewed.
Having already stepped away from T20Is after leading India to a World Cup title last year, Rohit Sharma will now focus solely on leading the national side in ODIs.