India’s Test captain, Rohit Sharma, is reportedly set to be rested for the decisive fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, paving the way for pacer Jasprit Bumrah to lead the side at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Friday. The move comes after Rohit conveyed his decision to step aside to coach Gautam Gambhir and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, who are said to have agreed.
This development raises speculation that the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne might have been Rohit’s swan song in Test cricket. With the next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle kicking off with a tour to England this summer, Rohit’s inclusion in future Test plans appears uncertain, particularly since India’s qualification for the current WTC final seems unlikely.
In terms of team changes, Shubman Gill is set to make a comeback to the playing XI, batting at number three, while KL Rahul will open the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rishabh Pant retains his place in the side, and Prasidh Krishna will replace the injured Akash Deep, who was ruled out ahead of the series finale.
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Notably, Rohit’s presence at practice was subdued on match eve. While Gambhir engaged in a prolonged discussion with Bumrah during fielding drills, Rohit was seen batting briefly against side-arm bowlers and skipped the customary slip practice. Gambhir, when asked about Rohit’s place in the XI, offered a vague response, stating, “Everything is fine with Rohit. We’ll assess the wicket and announce the XI tomorrow.”
Gautam Gambhir’s cryptic responses, his own minimal presence in the nets, and a pumped Shubman Gill, there were telltale signs of Rohit Sharma not playing in Sydney. Here’s how the events unfolded during his last session with India Test team https://t.co/GmcBKrmV1g
— Sahil Malhotra (@Sahil_Malhotra1) January 2, 2025
🚨 TEAM INDIA UPDATES FOR THE SYDNEY TEST MATCH. 🚨
– Rohit Sharma opted out.
– Jasprit Bumrah to captain.
– Shubman Gill to return.
– KL and Jaiswal to open (Express Sports). pic.twitter.com/w2bFN4F8PU— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 2, 2025
Rohit’s struggles in recent Tests have drawn attention. He averages just 6.2 in his last three Tests in Australia and 10.93 across his previous nine outings. Coupled with India’s underwhelming performances under his leadership, including a home whitewash against New Zealand and two losses to Australia in the ongoing series, questions about his role have intensified.
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For Bumrah, the upcoming Test is a crucial opportunity to showcase his leadership once again. With India trailing 1-2 in the series, the visitors must win in Sydney to level the series and retain the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
