Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 7, just weeks before India’s five-match series against England. While many lauded the veteran and extended their wishes for his future, former India cricketer and coach Pravin Amre commented that despite Rohit’s natural talent and solid technique, he did not fully capitalise on his potential in the longest format.

Rohit’s Test debut came in 2013 under MS Dhoni‘s captaincy. He initially struggled with the bat but the team management’s move to play him as an opener changed his career. The right-handed batter showed exceptional skill, delivering a number of memorable innings. However, Amre believes that the figures do not accurately reflect Rohit’s talent.

“Fantastic technique and good game awareness. He was confident from the start but his habit of playing a lot of shots resulted in his failures. However, once he found his rhythm, his became more consistent. I still believe he did not do justice to his talent as a Test batter,” he told TOI.

In 67 matches, Rohit scored 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries. However, he was averaging less than 11 in the 15 innings. Former Indian captain Dilip Vengsarkar said that Rohit should have waited till the England series

“He possesses the rare ability to judge length early, which allows him to either defend or attack from both the front and back foot. He doesn’t get pressurize because of bowlers and conditions. I’m concerned that India will miss his experience as an opener. He played exceptionally well in 2021, leaving many deliveries and batting for long periods. He should have played the England series,” he stated.