Rohit Sharma has never been afraid to assume accountability, particularly since he was named captain of india in all formats in march 2022. When things went wrong, like in the 50-over world cup final against Australia, he remained steadfast in his resolve to set the tone for white-ball action.He hasn't been as innovative as a leader or motivating as a batter in the five-day game, especially since the season began. Under Rohit, india has dropped four of their previous five Test matches, including three against new zealand at home, and his individual play hasn't been particularly impressive. Talk regarding Rohit's future has started since Ravichandran Ashwin abruptly retired from international cricket at the conclusion of the brisbane Test on Wednesday. virat kohli, too.Against the Kiwis in Bengaluru during the third week of October, the captain scored his lone half-century in his previous 13 innings. Regardless of that, his bat has become icy cold. He has come under more scrutiny as a result of his recent bad performance and the dearth of significant scores. Following the Gabba draw, he acknowledged that he needs to improve, just as he did in Bengaluru when he admitted to making a poor decision by batting first and watching his team fall to 46 all out.Rohit explained why he thinks a reversal is imminent in the same sentence. "I have not batted well, there is no harm in accepting that," he said. "However, I am aware of my thoughts and how I am getting ready. Every one of those criteria is definitely checked. I'm quite confident I'm just there, so it's just about making the most of my time. I'm generally satisfied with how things are going as long as my body, mind, and feet are all functioning well. I'm feeling good about myself, even though I haven't had any huge runs in a long time.Nobody has the authority to force someone to retire; it is a very personal decision. With two games remaining in a series, Ashwin left on his own terms. Although Rohit cannot be forced to quit, the selectors have the authority to hold him responsible if they see suitable. india begins the next cycle with a five-Test series in england starting in June, and their chances of reaching the World Test championship final for the third straight cycle are slim.

Whether Rohit is in Old Blighty to install a new captain and gradually leave, or whether the decision-makers believe a new cycle calls for a new beginning, a new man at the helm, a new philosophy, and a new motto, will be greatly influenced by the outcome of the next two Test matches in Australia.

Time is running out for Rohit and Kohli.

Rohit knows very well that he needs to start moving into the blue in the column of test runs. Despite his affability, he will be forced into a corner if he doesn't. As will kohli, the man he succeeded as captain, whose century in the second innings in Perth, when KL rahul and yashasvi jaiswal had already built the basis, is starting to seem like an exception.They maintain that, regardless of the circumstances, a firing is a dismissal and an out is an out. This series, Rohit has been dismissed three times for three distinct types of deliveries, but kohli has fallen victim to the oldest ploy in history: the ball being delivered in the hallway outside of the stadium that he can't help but flirt with. It's debatable whether that results from the imagined need to dictate terms to the bowler or from the desperate desire to feel bat on ball.He has unquestionably reverted to the worst period of his Test cricket career, the 2014 tour of england, when he was consistently caught behind the wickets in 10 innings that produced a pitiful 134 runs. He has, after all, been fired four times in a row in the same manner within the past four weeks.

Even though kohli is younger and more fit than Rohit, that doesn't mean he has an advantage. He is aware that he must begin doing his share of the work as soon as possible. If not, he will also compel the team management and selections to think about the best course of action. It will depend entirely on the returns that the two batsmen generate over the course of the next two Test matches and three weeks, but india won't want to lose both of their best batsmen at the same time.