Rohit SharmaIndia's regular Test captain, was not to be seen at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) during the national anthem. Fans were left confused as his name did not appear on the team sheet for the crucial fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The incident has since sparked a whirlwind of reactions online.
Bumrah leads Rohit while opting for rest
India's clash with Australia at the SCG is no ordinary Test. It is a game of do or die for Team India as they bid for a place in the World Test Championship final. Surprisingly, Rohit Sharma has decided to let this go, handing over the reins to Jasprit Bumrah.
Bumrah, speaking while bowling, was feeling confident. “We are looking to bat first. We have been playing good cricket recently. The last match was exciting. The grass does not look like a threat. We have learned to accept challenges and we will fight hard today.”
The formation of India witnessed two changes. Shubman Gill replaced Rohit Sharma, while Prasidh Krishna replaced the injured Akash Deb.
Rohit Sharma's national anthem raises speculations
While resting a player is routine, Rohit's absence during the national anthem was not. Traditionally, even non-playing team members go out with the team. Rohit's decision to stay back raised eyebrows and quickly became a hot topic on social media.
Renowned cricket journalist Bharat Sundaresan has commented on the issue. “Rohit Sharma is not out of the team and his name is out of the list. There may be a different opinion on the 'rest pick,'” he posted on X.
Rohit Sharma hasn’t stepped out with the rest of the squad & his name no longer appears in the squad list either. A different meaning to “opted to rest” perhaps #AusvInd pic.twitter.com/yRb203Rmni
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) January 2, 2025
Tensions increased further when Rohit's name did not appear in the team sheet signed by head coach Gautam Gambhir. The names of Dhruv Gurel and Devdutt Padikkal have been added in place of Rohit's name. This means that Rohit Sharma will not participate in the SCG Test, not even as an additional player.
The ambiguous tone of Sundaresan's remark only served to fuel speculation. Fans debated whether there is more to Rohit's absence than meets the eye.
For India, this SCG Test is crucial. Victory keeps their hopes alive in the World Test Championship final. But a loss or a draw will end their journey.
Stay updated with all the cricket happenings, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, twitter, cableand Instagram
Source link