Will India Captain Rohit Sharma Play In Sydney Test? Here’s What Gambhir Said

Sydney: Will the out-of-form India captain Rohit Sharma be dropped out from the team in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy? Well, India head coach Gautam Gambhir didn’t rule out the possibility while addressing a pre-match press conference in Sydney, which Sharma skipped fanning speculations of him being dropped out. Sharma has come under the scanner amid his poor outing with the bat in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Rohit has registered 10 single digit scores in 15 Test innings in 2024.

He has managed just 31 runs in five innings at a dismal average of 6.20. This has been the lowest-ever total scored by a touring captain on the Australian soil. Fans had called for his ouster. “Everything is fine with Rohit and we will announce that (Playing 11) tomorrow, after seeing the pitch. We had just one conversation in our dressing room – how we will win the next test, as it is important for us,” Gambhir said.

While answering a question on Rohit’s absence from the press meet, Gambhir said: “I don’t think it’s anything traditional, I think the Head Coach is here that should be fine and that should be good enough.” But Gambhir, the head coach, confirmed that pacer Akash Deep will miss the final game due to a back issue.

Australia clinched a 184-run win over India in the Melbourne Test. After this victory, Australia has taken a 2-1 lead in the series. This also reduces India’s chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s. India needs to win the test in Sydney to make it to the WTC.

Gambhir also said he hadn’t had any conversations with Rohit or Virat Kohli apart from strategies to help the team secure a victory. “Every individual knows what are the areas to work on. We have only had one conversation with them (and that is) how to win Test matches,” he said.

The head coach also cautioned at batters throwing their wickets away cheaply in the name of playing their ’natural game.’ He stated that the batters needed to play according to the team’s needs, rather than going off on an adventure of their own.

Recently, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant faced backlash for his rash strokeplay and ambitious shots twice in the Melbourne Test.

Earlier, there were reports citing leaked conversations from within the dressing room. These reports quoted Gambhir as saying “Bahut ho gaya (I’ve had enough).” But the former India opener denied such reports. “Debates between coach and player should remain in dressing room. Stern words. They were just reports not truth,” Gambhir said