Rohit Sharma was conspicuous by his absence at the toss and later when the Indian players lined up for the national anthem at the SCG. He was then seen sitting outside the changing room with one foot on top of the other and scratching his chin, perhaps remembering his final walk at the MCG last week, and as a white player, he was seen scratching his chin. This is likely to be his last appearance as a member of the national team.
The Indian Express understands that Rohit Sharma is not in the selectors’ plans beyond the Australia tour when it comes to red-ball cricket, and this has already been communicated to him ahead of the Sydney Test. It is said that It is also understood that selectors will discuss the way forward with Virat Kohli after the Australia tour as the team prepares to enter its biggest transition period in its history. Ravindra Jadeja, another senior player in the squad, will remain in the set-up as the all-rounder’s presence will be appreciated during the transition period.
As for Rohit Sharma not playing in Sydney, it appears to have been a decision taken by player and head coach Gautam Gambhir after a meeting with selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar. With the series at stake, Rohit’s struggles with the bat (he has scores of 3, 6, 10, 3, 9) show no signs of ending, and his lack of confidence as captain It’s not a point of discussion that was reflected on the field in the decision to rest/step down.
Read more: First Melbourne effect, captain Rohit Sharma absent, replaced by Jasprit Bumrah
At the toss, Bumrah confirmed what was reported by The Indian Express on Thursday regarding Rohit Sharma sitting in Sydney. “Obviously, our captain (Rohit) has shown leadership as well. He chose to rest for this game. So it shows there’s a lot of cohesiveness in our team. The selfishness No. Whatever is in the best interest of the team, that is what we are aiming for,” the stand-in captain said upon raising the toss.
Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. (Express photo provided by Sriram Veera)
The big question is whether the captain, who was dropped in the Test, will be able to return to the team even if India reaches the WTC finals. As things stand, the possibility of that happening is extremely slim, and it is understood that the selection committee unanimously made the decision with Rohit in mind. Discussions regarding the Champions Trophy, which will be played in a 50-over format, are expected to take place in the next few days once the team returns to India.
Read more: Sanjay Manjrekar says Rohit Sharma is not such a great player that his exclusion remains a mystery
Batting great Sunil Gavaskar told the host that Rohit might have played his last Test. “I think it probably means that the Melbourne Test will be Rohit Sharma’s last match if India doesn’t qualify for the WTC finals. The (next) WTC cycle starts with the England series and the selectors will probably want players who can play in the 2027 finals. Whether India will get there is another question, but the selection committee probably will. This will probably be the last time we see Rohit Sharma in Test cricket,” Gavaskar said.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri said Rohit may take a decision after the Sydney Test. “If the home season was closer, he might have thought about continuing, but I think he might retire once this test is over,” he said in commentary. “He’s not getting any younger… It’s not like India don’t have youngsters. We have some very good players in the side and now is the time to build on that. It’s a difficult decision, but there’s a time for everything.”
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