Rohit Sharma's next major challenge as captain looms with a five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia later this year. Premier Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has showered praise on the Indian skipper, particularly for his ability to score freely even in challenging batting conditions. Since assuming the Test captaincy from Virat Kohli, Rohit has excelled at the helm, amassing 1101 runs, including four centuries, while guiding India to the final of the World Test Championship.
Hazlewood, who has faced Rohit in several intense encounters, admitted that bowling to him is particularly difficult due to his remarkable composure at the crease. "I remember he used to bat lower in the order, but more recently he's opened. He plays the fast bowlers incredibly well. The bounce and movement don’t seem to bother him, and it feels like he has all the time in the world. He's definitely one of the toughest batters to bowl to," Hazlewood shared in an interview with Star Sports.
Rohit's impressive Test credentials were further validated in the ICC rankings, where he remains in the top 10 despite slipping five places after a tough outing in Bangladesh. Beyond Hazlewood, Australia's star spinner Nathan Lyon also identified Rohit as a major threat, alongside Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, for the upcoming series. Lyon acknowledged the depth of India's batting lineup, which includes rising talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, making the Border-Gavaskar Trophy a formidable challenge for the Australian bowlers.
Australia, meanwhile, are eager to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, having failed to win a Test series against India in the past decade, including two losses on home soil. Since their 2-0 victory in 2014-15, Australia has been on the losing end of four consecutive series, falling to captains Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and most recently, Rohit Sharma in 2023.