NEW DELHI: The Boxing Day Test has historically posed challenges for Indian cricket captains, affecting their performance due to the high-profile nature of the match and the demands of five days of intense cricket, particularly as they age.
While Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, younger captains at the time, led India to memorable victories against Australia in the Boxing Day Test, both MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma have had underwhelming experiences in this marquee fixture while at the helm.
Both Dhoni and Rohit, who previously led India to T20 World Cup victories, saw their tenures as Test captains come to an end at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Dhoni announced his retirement after scoring an unbeaten 24 in the second innings of a drawn Boxing Day Test, while Rohit Sharma has been dropped from the Indian team, according to TimesofIndia.com, on the eve of the Sydney Test.
This match marks the final game in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, and with the next cycle approaching, India will be seeking a new Test captain as Rohit turns 38 this year.
Rohit’s recent Test performances have been disappointing, making this decision somewhat unsurprising.
His fluctuating batting position has disrupted the team’s balance. After missing the first Test due to the birth of his child, Rohit returned to lead the team in Adelaide. However, the team’s performance under his captaincy has been suboptimal.
He batted in the middle order in Adelaide and Brisbane but returned to opening in Melbourne. This adjustment led to the exclusion of Shubman Gill — a decision that backfired as Rohit’s poor form continued. His struggles have also affected his on-field decision-making.
Rohit has endured a prolonged period of low scores. In the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he has managed only 31 runs in five innings, averaging a mere 6.20. His overall performance in 2024 has also been underwhelming. In 14 matches this year, he has scored 619 runs at an average of 24.76, with two centuries and two fifties.
Since his century against England in March 2024, Rohit’s form has sharply declined. Following that 103-run innings in Dharamsala, he has accumulated only 154 runs in 15 innings at an average of 10.26, with a highest score of 52 against New Zealand in Bengaluru.
In 19 Test innings in Australia, Rohit has scored 439 runs at an average of 24.38, including three half-centuries.
During the 2013–14 winter tours, MS Dhoni captained India in away Test series against South Africa and New Zealand, narrowly losing both series 1–0. The 2014 England tour began promisingly, with a draw in the first Test and a win at Lord’s, but India ultimately lost the series 3–1.
India fought valiantly in the subsequent tour of Australia, led by a young batting group under Kohli, but their efforts were not reflected in the series results.
Dhoni announced his retirement from Test cricket after the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. In 18 Test innings in Australia, Dhoni averaged 19.43, scoring 311 runs with one half-century. He concluded his Test career with an impressive record for a wicketkeeper: 4,876 runs at an average of over 38, including six centuries and nearly 300 dismissals.
