Legendary Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar made a bold statement, claiming that Rohit Sharma could step down from his captaincy if his poor form continues. Rohit has faced a rough patch in recent matches, drawing criticism from fans and experts alike. His decision to move down to No. 6 in the batting order has not yielded the desired results, as he struggled to make a significant impact in the last two Test matches against Australia.

Speaking to ABC Sport, Gavaskar suggested that Rohit may not wait for the selection committee to make a decision regarding his captaincy. Instead, he predicted that the skipper would choose to step down if his form does not improve in the upcoming matches of the five-match series in Melbourne and Sydney.

“I believe Rohit will definitely have a chance to play the next few matches. But if he doesn’t score runs, my feeling is that he will take the decision himself,” Gavaskar stated.

“Rohit is a very conscientious cricketer. He would never want to be a burden on the team. He cares deeply about Indian cricket,” he added. “If he doesn’t score runs in the next couple of games, I think he will step down on his own.”

Meanwhile, Australia’s veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon expressed surprise at the reaction of some Indian team members after they avoided the follow-on on Day Four of the third Test at Gabba.

In a tense moment, the last-wicket partnership between Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep helped India avoid the follow-on and stave off a potential innings defeat. When Akash hit a thick outside edge for four off Pat Cummins, it sparked jubilant celebrations among Rohit Sharma, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and star batter Virat Kohli.

Lyon, however, revealed that some of the Australian team were taken aback by the exuberant celebrations from the Indian camp. “A few of us were surprised by their reaction. We’ve been playing well and have driven the game where it is. It was frustrating, but we are still ahead by 185 runs. I still believe if we bat well, we can push for an Australian win.”