With Retirement Rumours Swirling, Rohit Turns Up for Optional Practice at Lord's The chants of adoration that accompanied Rohit Sharma's entrance into Lord's on Saturday were a poignant reminder of the disconnect between the fan and the franchise.
While the crowd saw their hero, the team management was grappling with the realities of his waning form. Rohit's statistics are stark – 241 runs this year, significantly behind Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli.
His meager return of 37 runs in this series so far only adds to the pressure on the 39 year old stalwart. Team management must navigate a fine line between loyalty and pragmatism.