Pathan: Broadcasters backed Rohit in Sydney amid weak Test form

Former India allrounder Irfan Pathan has offered new disclosures about Rohit Sharma’s troubled run as India’s red-ball captain, saying broadcasters effectively backed Rohit during the Sydney interview amid a dismal Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Pathan argued that Rohit’s weak Test form—164 runs across eight innings in 2024-25 and an average of 6.20 in the Australia series—placed him in a position where, if he had not been captain, he likely would have been dropped from the playing XI. The remarks come as Rohit stepped away from Test cricket in May 2025 and a leadership transition followed, with Shubman Gill named India’s new Test captain.

Pathan’s comments were shared in a long-form interview that revisited Rohit’s decision to skip the final Sydney Test after missing the series opener on paternity leave. Pathan maintained that Rohit’s presence in the Sydney interview was not simply about backing the captain, but about presenting Rohit as a competitor who deserved to fight for his place. He stressed that Rohit’s struggle in Tests is well documented, noting that his Test-year average was among the lowest for any touring captain in Australia in recent memory. “Rohit is an...