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India and Australia are set to clash in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Gabba, Brisbane, on December 14. The stakes are high for Team India, especially for skipper Rohit Sharma, who is facing mounting pressure after the crushing defeat in the second Test.
Rohit’s Unfavorable Streak as Test Captain
With India’s 10-wicket loss in the Adelaide Test, Rohit Sharma now has four consecutive Test defeats as captain. This losing streak includes a 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand earlier this year in a rare home series defeat. India’s win in the first Test of this series was under the leadership of Jasprit Bumrah, who captained in Rohit’s absence due to personal reasons. Upon Rohit’s return for the second Test, the team suffered a humiliating loss, amplifying the pressure on the captain.
Closing in on an Embarrassing Record
Rohit is now on the brink of equalling Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the joint-second most consecutive Test losses as captain for India. Currently, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi holds the undesirable record of six straight Test defeats as India’s captain. Here is the list of Indian captains with the most consecutive Test losses:
- Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi – 6 losses
- Sachin Tendulkar – 5 losses
- Datta Gaekwad – 5 losses
- MS Dhoni – 4 losses
- Virat Kohli – 4 losses
- Rohit Sharma – 4 losses
Sachin Tendulkar’s streak occurred in 1999 when India suffered a 0-3 series defeat against Australia away and then lost 0-2 to South Africa at home.
A Must-Win Match for Rohit and India
The third Test is not just an opportunity for India to reclaim the lead in the series but also for Rohit to avoid joining this unwanted list of captains. A win will help India stay in contention for the World Test Championship Final, while a loss could see them fall further behind in the standings.
With both the series and his captaincy legacy on the line, all eyes will be on Rohit Sharma as he leads India into this crucial encounter.
