During the interview, Rohit Sharma suggested that he "isn't retiring" and said that he decided to "opt out" of the match owing to poor form.

Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik believes that Rohit Sharma gave an unprecedented interview midway through the Sydney Test match to calm the public down. Karthik expects Rohit Sharma to take a few big calls during his brief rest before the England ODIs.

Sanjay Manjrekar reckons Rohit Sharma did not want Gautam Gambhir to get credit. Hence he said that he “stood down” for the Sydney Test.

India contemplated Test cricket without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on Monday after the star duo again failed to fire in the bruising series defeat to Australia. With out-of-form skipper Rohit missing, the visitors went down by six wickets in the fifth and final Test on Sunday in Sydney to lose the series 3-1.

India coach Gautam Gambhir said veteran batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli still have a future in the team if they want it, despite disappointing returns on the test tour of Australia.

"I think the next 8–10 days are crucial for Indian cricket to take a good, honest look at itself," former captain Sunil Gavaskar told news channel India Today.