India vs South Africa: Has Rohit Sharma Played His Last Test?

Rohit Sharma's performances in the series against South Africa, and in particular during the fourth Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla, have put plenty of question marks on his Test career. (SCORECARD)

In the first innings, Rohit failed to capitalise on a life as he mindlessly slogged to long-on to be dismissed for 1. In the second innings, he was cleaned up by a wonderful ball from Morne Morkel to be dismissed for a golden duck. (Sanjay Bangar Defends Rohit Sharma, Says Some People Need Time to Blossom)

With 26 runs in the series at an average of 6.50, there are big question marks regarding his Test spot. (Sanjay Manjrekar Feels it will be Tough for Rohit Sharma to Retain Test Spot)

Having burst on to the Test scene with two centuries in his first two innings against West Indies in what was Sachin Tendulkar's farewell series in 2013, Rohit promised big things. In 2010, his chance of a Test debut was shattered as he injured his knee just before the start of the Test in Nagpur against South Africa.

However, after his bright start, it was a downward slide for the Mumbaikar since the bright start of 2013 and his performance at the Kotla was symbolic of how poor his form is. It will be tough for India's batting coach, Sanjay Bangar, to defend Rohit after this woeful Test.

During the lunch break, former India opener Sunil Gavaskar was of the view that even though Morkel's delivery was unplayable, there was no conviction or feet movement in Rohit's batting.

"There was no real feet movement from Rohit. He should have been forward to that delivery. But these things happen when you are down in confidence and out of form," Gavaskar told Star Sports.

Before this match, former cricketer turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar pointed out that Rohit is in self-destructive mode in Test matches.

"What goes against him is the way he gets out. Even today, at a crucial juncture trying to hit a bowler for a six and getting out. His game is built on lofted shots. The sixes and big shots are part of his DNA, his basic game," Manjrekar said. "What he has struggled to do is rein it in. In England also he got out while playing a big shot. He plays a lot of them in other formats of the game. He is almost in self-destruction mode," he added.

The failure in the Test series compounds the frustration of the Indian fan further, considering Rohit's wonderful form during the limited-overs leg of the series. In the one-day series, he scored 255 runs at an average of 51, including a brilliant 150 in Kanpur which India just lost by five runs. In the Twenty20 series, he scored 128 runs, including his maiden Twenty20 century.

Is it time that Team India try out a new player or should Rohit be given another series? Only time will tell!