Insider Reveals Untold Story Behind Rohit Sharma’s Sydney Test Interview Drama

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has opened up about the behind-the-scenes happenings during Rohit Sharma’s notable interview at the Sydney Cricket Ground during the Border-Gavaskar series of 2024-25. At that time, Rohit, serving as Test captain, had opted himself out of the Sydney Test due to a string of poor performances. Having missed the series opener due to paternity leave, Rohit’s lackluster performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he only managed to score 31 runs in three Tests with an average of 6.20, sparked discussions about his exclusion from the final match as India aimed to level the series. Pathan, who conducted the interview with Rohit in Sydney, disclosed that the broadcasters were compelled to support the then skipper despite his ongoing struggles in the longer format of the game. According to Pathan, if Rohit hadn’t been the team captain, he would likely have been dropped from the playing XI by the team management. “Rohit Sharma is undoubtedly a phenomenal player in white-ball cricket, but his Test average that year was a mere 6, so we acknowledged that he wouldn’t have secured a spot in the team if he wasn’t the captain, and this is a fact,” shared Pathan in a clip shared by Lallantop. Addressing the criticism of favoritism, Pathan emphasized the importance of maintaining professionalism during interviews, especially with invited guests like Rohit. He clarified that while they were cordial during the interview, it was their responsibility as hosts to be respectful. Following that Sydney Test, Rohit bid adieu to Test cricket on May 7, concluding his red-ball career with 4301 runs from 67 matches at an average of 40.58. The Mumbai batsman also notched up 12 Test centuries and 18 half-centuries during his Test tenure.