Sydney: Rohit Sharma had almost become a passenger in the Indian team. The runs have long dried up and his captaincy, too, has not been top class in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT).
Though there was no confirmation from the team management, it’s quite likely that Rohit won’t feature in the fifth and final Test which begins at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Friday.
According to a report in The Indian Express, the Indian captain has opted out of the Sydney Test. He informed head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar about his decision, which was accepted.
In Rohit’s absence, Jasprit Bumrah will lead the team. The champion pacer, who has grabbed an astonishing 30 wickets in 4 Tests in the series so far, had led India in the first Test, too, which Rohit missed as he arrived late in Australia after the birth of his second child.
India thrashed Australia by 295 runs in the Perth Test, but have gone off the boil since then, losing the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, managing to draw the rain-hit Brisbane Test and surrendering the Melbourne Test in the final session.
It’s a very important Test match as India are looking to level the series 2-2 that will help them retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, as well as keep their slim hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship alive.
There was a hint that Rohit could be ‘rested’ for the Sydney Test as it was Gambhir who attended the pre-match press conference rather than the captain.
The head coach didn’t confirm whether Rohit will be playing, saying that the playing XI will be announced after having a look at the pitch on the morning of the match.
There were other telltale signs, too, with Rohit having a brief session at the nets being the last man to walk in for practice and also missing the routine slip catching practice drill, while Gambhir had a long conversation with Bumrah on the eve of the final Test.
If Rohit sits out, Shubman Gill will return to the playing XI and bat at No. 3 while KL Rahul will be back in the opening slot alongside Yashasvi Jasiwal.
Pacer Prasidh Krishna may replace an injured Akash Deep, who was ruled out of the series finale on Thursday.
Rohit scored 133 runs in six home Test matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand. And in the ongoing BGT, Rohit has managed 3, 6, 10, 3 and 9 in five innings.
He dropped down the order in the second Test to allow Rahul and Jaiswal continue opening the innings following their 200-plus partnership in the series opener. After batting at No. 6 in two matches, Rohit opened in the Melbourne Test, but there was no change in his fortunes.
The Melbourne Test could well have been Rohit’s last in the game’s longest format as the next Test series is not before June. He has already quit T20 Internationals, and it remains to be seen whether Rohit keeps going in ODIs to lead India in next month’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan and UAE.
