Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma has reportedly played his last Test match, and it was the Boxing Day Test, as the tourists suffered a 184-run defeat by Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne last month.
With India's hopes of the 2025 WTC Final hanging in the balance, they will be desperate to win the fifth and final Test against Australia, starting on Friday, January 3, 2025, at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) to level and retain the Test series. The prestigious Border-Gavaskar Award.
Rohit Sharma set to miss New Year's Test as Jasprit Bumrah takes charge of India
Ahead of the New Year's Test in Sydney, Indian captain Rohit Sharma will reportedly be 'rested' for the fifth and final Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The 36-year-old has decided to rest for the match, where superstar Jasprit Bumrah will captain the Indian cricket team in a do-or-die clash against Australia in Sydney.
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The Indian Express has confirmed that Rohit Sharma has informed head coach, Gautam Gambhir, and chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, of his decision to withdraw from the New Year's Test, and the likely reason behind this recall is his poor form with the bat. In the ongoing five-match Test series.
The report also claimed that both Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar have agreed to the Indian captain's decision, meaning vice-captain, Jasprit Bumrah, will walk out for the toss on Friday morning at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney.
Shubman Gill set to return for SCG Test; Prasidh Krishna will replace the injured Akash Deb
Meanwhile, this could also mean that the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne might be Rohit Sharma's last Test for India, as he is unlikely to be part of the Indian cricket team for the next World Test Championship (WTC) tournament, which begins with a tour to England in the summer. Next.
On the other hand, Shubman Gill, who was ruled out of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, is set to return to the playing XI in place of Rohit. However, Shubman Gill will bat at number three, while KL Rahul will return to open for India alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in the New Year's Test against Australia.
Contrary to reports, The Indian Express also revealed that Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant will retain his place in the team, while Prasidh Krishna will replace the injured Akash Deb, who has been ruled out of the final Test at the SCG.
Gautam Gambhir is involved in crucial talks with Jasprit Bumrah at SCG
On the eve of the New Year's Test, Gautam Gambhir was seen having long and serious conversations with Jasprit Bumrah while the team was doing fielding exercises in Sydney. Rohit made a brief appearance at the nets, hitting the bowlers.
Rohit Sharma was one of the last players to join the training session and was absent during the usual slip drills at the SCG. Rohit has been struggling badly for runs, averaging just 6.2 in his last three Tests in Australia and 10.93 over his last nine Test appearances.