BCCI will sack Rohit Sharma as an Indian test captain before the England Series

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to remove Rohit Sharma as the India cricket team’s Test captain. The board wants to groom a new leader starting with the India vs England Test series, someone who’ll be in charge for the entire 2025-27 cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC).

“The selectors’ thought process is clear. They want a new leader for the England tour, and Rohit doesn’t fit in as a captain, especially considering his red-ball form,” a BCCI source told Indian Express.

Rohit Sharma’s Test struggles

The move isn’t perplexing. Rohit has been in horrible form. He really struggled in the 2024-2025 season, and the worst of it came in the end against Australia. The Indian Test captain averaged a mere 6.20 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) and even had to drop himself for the final Test of the 5-match series.

It was the first time in 10 years India failed to retain the BGT. A couple of months before that, under Rohit, India lost their first home Test series in 12 years against New Zealand.

At 38, he isn’t getting younger. But his form is the real issue. His willow has been quiet in red-ball cricket for a while. Even a Ranji Trophy return didn’t bode that well for him. His exploits at the same age in white-ball cricket are exceptional, as he led Team India to a second ICC title in 9 months, the Champions Trophy 2025.

BCCI, looking for a ‘young’ Test captain

Therefore, the BCCI has decided to look elsewhere. They are looking for Rohit’s replacement, someone who won’t just lead in England but take Team India forward in the coming years. Who would that be? We don’t know yet. But Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill might be the ones in their minds.

“They want to groom a young leader for the next Test cycle, and the selection committee has informed the BCCI that Rohit won’t lead the team,” the source added.