According to reports from the Indian Express, Rohit Sharma has opted out of the Sydney Test, and Jasprit Bumrah will captain India in the BGT series decider.
In a surprising development, Indian captain Rohit Sharma is set to miss the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney, starting Friday. Reports from Indian Express suggest Rohit has opted out of the crucial match, with Jasprit Bumrah stepping in as captain.
Rohit reportedly informed head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar about his decision, which they accepted. During practice on the eve of the match, Bumrah had an extended discussion with Gambhir. Meanwhile, Rohit’s involvement in training was limited, as he batted briefly in the nets and skipped routine slip-catching sessions.
If Rohit Sharma is rested for the Sydney Test, Shubman Gill is expected to return to the playing XI and bat at number three. KL Rahul will likely move back to the opening slot alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. In another confirmed change, pacer Prasidh Krishna is set to replace Akash Deep, who was ruled out due to injury on Thursday.
No Confirmation from Gambhir on Rohit Sharma’s Inclusion
Notably, Gambhir declined to confirm Rohit’s availability during the pre-match press conference, stating the final XI will be decided after assessing the pitch conditions. Despite speculation, the team insists that Rohit is in good condition, and his absence is seen as a tactical decision.
“We will look at the wicket and announce the playing XI tomorrow. 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,” the coach had said.
India trails 1-2 in the series and must win the Sydney Test to level the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
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Last Updated on January 2, 2025
