India Test captain Rohit Sharma has reportedly (according to Indian Express) decided to “rest” for the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, set to begin at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Friday. In his absence, pacer Jasprit Bumrah will take on the captaincy responsibilities for the crucial match.
According to Indian Express, Rohit informed head coach Gautam Gambhir and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar about his decision, which was reportedly agreed upon by the duo. This decision raises speculation about Rohit’s future in the longest format, as this match could potentially mark his final Test appearance, given the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) cycle and India’s slim chances of making the final.
Shubman Gill, who was dropped for the Melbourne Test, may replace Rohit in the playing XI and bat at number three. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal can once again open the innings. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant retains his position as wicketkeeper-batter, and pacer Prasidh Krishna is set to step in for Akash Deep, who has been ruled out due to injury.
Bumrah, who led India to victory in the opening Test of the series, has another opportunity to showcase his leadership as India aims to level the series 2-2 and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Head coach Gambhir was seen having detailed discussions with Bumrah during training, hinting at strategic planning for the high-stakes match.
Rohit’s decision to opt out follows a string of underwhelming performances in the ongoing series, where he has averaged just 6.2 across three matches in Australia. His recent struggles extend beyond this series, with a dismal average of 10.93 over the last nine Tests. Additionally, his captaincy has faced scrutiny following a series whitewash against New Zealand at home and consecutive defeats to Australia in the current series.
During the pre-match press conference, Gambhir remained non-committal about Rohit’s inclusion, stating, “Everything is fine with Rohit. We are going to have a look at the wicket and announce the playing XI tomorrow.”
