Legendary Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist predicted Rohit Sharma's potential retirement from international cricket after the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in March. Rohit Sharma's leadership was criticized after India's 1-3 Test series loss to Australia. He was also the big flop with the bat in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia.
Amid the buzz surrounding Rohit Sharma's future after the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy debacle, Adam Gilchrist also predicted that India could see a change of captaincy in Test cricket, either jasprit bumrah or Virat Kohli stepping in as captain in their next assignment against England in June 2025.
Adam Gilchrist predicts Rohit Sharma's retirement after ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Following the disastrous tour in Australia, many wondered whether the 37-year-old would even make the squad for India's next Test series in England, which kicks off the new 2025-27 Test World Cup cycle. Well, Gilchrist expressed doubts about Rohit Sharma's future in Tests.
The former Australian wicketkeeper-batsman hinted that the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy could be his swan song. Gilchrist doesn't think Rohit will extend his Test career until the England tour, but will get a clearer picture of his future after self-assessment this break.
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Adam Gilchrist said at Club Prairie Fire: “I don't see Rohit Sharma going to England. I just felt he was saying he would evaluate it when he got home. I mean, the first thing she'll encounter when she gets home is a two-month-old baby whose diapers she needs to change. Now that might spur him on to England. But I know not; I don't see him pressing on. I think he'll probably have a crack at the Champions Trophy and that could be it. That could see him out.”
Virat Kohli or Jasprit Bumrah? Adam Gilchrist weighs in on the conundrum of India's captaincy
The cricket pundit also has doubts that Jasprit Bumrah will be India's full-time Test captain as he predicted a possible return of Virat Kohli to the captaincy, at least for the upcoming England tour.
He added, “I don't know if Bumrah should be the full-time captain. I think that might get a little difficult for him. So who can be the next captain is anyone's guess really if they go back to Virat Kohli. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't mind doing that.”
Meanwhile, former England captain Michael Vaughan said Jasprit Bumrah should get the Indian captaincy, while highlighting the team's performance under the pacer. He also mentioned that had Jasprit Bumrah not been injured, India would have won the Sydney Test and saved the BGT 2024-25 against Australia.
Michael Vaughan backs Jasprit Bumrah for India Test captaincy
Michael Vaughan said on the same podcast: “I think you're right. I would give the captaincy to Jasprit Bumrah and the reason is that the two best performances India have had here in Australia have been Perth and SCG. And if he hadn't been injured, I honestly think he would have won that game.”
Even Vaughan has endorsed Shubman Gill as a potential vice-captain for the much-anticipated Test series. But the Englishman suggested Gill to improve his numbers in the longest format of the game first. He concluded by saying, “I would have someone like Shubman Gill as vice-captain, but with an average of over 45, which I think has a lot to do.”