AUS vs IND: Rohit Sharma ‘rested’ for Sydney Test, Jasprit Bumrah returns as captain

India captain Rohit Sharma isn’t a part of the Indian playing XI for the New Year’s Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Jasprit Bumrah, who led India to the historic 295-run win in the opening Test match of the series at Perth Stadium, has returned as the side's skipper. Bumrah said at the toss that Rohit had ‘opted to rest himself' amidst poor form. The decision came after Rohit Sharma's disastrous campaign in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he has scored only 31 runs from three matches.

Pressure was also building on Rohit, who had lost five out of his last six Tests as captain. Last year, under his leadership, India’s 12-year streak of not losing a Test series at home also ended when New Zealand beat them 3-0. In Rohit’s place, India have picked Shubman Gill at SCG as they look to win the Sydney Test and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The senior India batter was not a part of the Indian squad for the final Test.

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So no Rohit Sharma for the Sydney test.

Not Even mentioned in the team sheet..why? #BGT2024 pic.twitter.com/Cu6hr0ve4V — Nitin K Srivastav (@Nitin_sachin) January 2, 2025

Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25: Full Coverage

Stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah said at the toss that Rohit Sharma was ‘rested' from the SCG Test and hailed Rohit for his unselfishness. Bumrah also referred to him as ‘our captain.'

“Obviously, our captain, you know, has shown his leadership as well. He's opted to rest in this game. So that shows that, you know, there's a lot of unity in our team, there's no selfishness that, you know, whatever is in the team's best interest, we are looking to do that. Two changes, Rohit has rested, Akash Deep is injured and Prasidh Krishna is in,” Jasprit Bumrah said during the toss at the SCG.

Bumrah's comments stood against reports in the Indian media that there was an internal struggle within the Indian team. The report spoke about how coach Gautam Gambhir spoke sternly to certain individuals about their form in the ongoing series. The report further claimed that one player saw himself as ‘Mr. Fix-It' and was willing to become the interim captain of the Indian Test team.

Gautam Gambhir's pre-match press conference on Thursday further fuelled the reports of the rift. The head coach of the men’s team, evaded the question of Rohit’s inclusion in the team for the SCG Test.

When asked if Rohit would feature in Team India's plans, Gambhir said, “As I just said, we are going to have a look at the wicket and announce the playing XI tomorrow,”

When pressed further, Gambhir firmly added: “The answer is the same.”

On December 2, sources confirmed to India Today that Rohit was likely to be left out of the Indian playing XI.

“The fourth Test in Melbourne may well have been Rohit’s last in Test cricket. Unless the BCCI intervenes and requests him to play one final time, the decision is unlikely to change,” the source said.

Under Rohit Sharma's captaincy, India have won 12 Tests, lost nine, while three matches ended in draws. In 67 Tests since his debut back in 2011 against the West Indies at the Eden Gardens, Rohit has scored 4301 runs with 12 centuries and a top score of 212.

( THis Article Is originally posted by IndiaToday )