India captain Rohit Sharma has been dropped for the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With Rohit not in the lineup, Jasprit Bumrah will lead the visiting team at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Rohit has had a lean patch with the bat. In the ongoing BGT, Rohit has mustered just 31 runs from five innings at an average of 6.20.
Ahead of the fifth Test, India coach Gautam Gambhir didn’t confirm Rohit’s inclusion in the playing XI. When asked categorically, twice, Gambhir opted against revealing his cards.
“We will look at the wicket and announce the playing XI tomorrow,” he said to one question. He stressed on that again with another question. “Everything is fine with Rohit. I don’t think there is anything traditional about it. The head coach is here, that should be fine. That should be good enough. And we have to look at the wicket to finalise the playing XI tomorrow,” he added bluntly.
When queried if there’s been any discussion with senior members Rohit and Virat Kohli, also struggling for form, Gambhir clarified that the only conversation has been on how to win the upcoming Test.
“The only conversation we have in the team is how to win the next Test match, as we all know how important this Test is,” the former opener said.
His numbers since the start of 2024 have been underwhelming. From 14 matches in the year gone by, he scored just 619 runs at an average of 24.76 with two hundreds and two fifties. Since scoring a 103 against England in March 2024, Rohit has struggled for runs. After that century knock in Dharamsala, Rohit has produced just 154 runs from 15 innings at an average of 10.26, it includes a best of 52 against New Zealand in Bengaluru.
The decision comes on the eve of the contest with India trailing the series 1-2.
(to be updated)
