Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is reportedly set to announce his retirement from international cricket following the ongoing five-match Test series against Australia.
According to an Indian media outlet, the announcement is expected to be made after the conclusion of the series, though the exact date remains undecided.
However, if India qualifies for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, the situation may evolve, potentially delaying the decision.
In a post-match press conference following India's crushing 184-run defeat in the fourth Test on Monday, Rohit candidly addressed his frustrations as captain.
"I stand where I am standing today. There is nothing to think about what has happened in the past. Obviously, few results have not gone our way. As a captain, yes, that is disappointing," said Rohit.
"You know, a lot of the things that I am trying to do is not falling in the place that I would want to. But mentally, look, you know, it is disturbing without a doubt. If you have come here and try and do successfully what you're supposed to and if those things don't fall in place, that is a big disappointment. But as of now, that is where it is," he explained.
The 37-year-old faced mounting criticism for his lackluster performances during the series. In the fourth Test, Rohit managed just nine runs off 40 deliveries before being caught at gully off a Pat Cummins delivery.
His first-innings outing was equally disappointing, where he fell for just three runs.
The batting failures were not limited to Rohit, as KL Rahul and Virat Kohli also struggled, falling in the first session of play.
Kohli showed some resistance in the first innings, scoring 36 off 86 balls, but could not make a significant impact in the match.
The fifth and final Test of the series is scheduled to take place in Sydney from January 3 to January 7.
India's WTC final qualification scenario is not in their favor, as they must win the final Test to qualify and also rely on Sri Lanka to whitewash Australia in the upcoming series.
- Rohit Sharma