Indian cricket was rocked by an unexpected development ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy finale, as captain Rohit Sharma reportedly decided to sit out the SCG Test. This decision marks a dramatic conclusion to the selection saga that has unfolded in recent days.
According to reports from the Indian Express, Sharma informed coach Gautam Gambhir and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar of his decision to “rest” for the crucial match. This news comes amidst a series of low scores for the skipper, who has endured the worst batting average by a touring captain in Australia’s history, with dismal returns of 3, 6, 10, 3, and 9 over the series.
In Sharma’s absence, Jasprit Bumrah is expected to retake the captaincy, with Shubman Gill slotting into the batting order at No. 3 behind KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Meanwhile, Prasidh Krishna is set to replace the injured Akash Deep, who has been sidelined with a back issue.
Gambhir’s Cagey Press Conference
The tension surrounding Sharma’s availability reached a peak during a Thursday press conference, where Gambhir stepped in for the absent skipper. When questioned about Sharma’s status, Gambhir remained non-committal, stating: “Everything is fine with Rohit. The head coach is here. That should be good enough.”
Pressed further on whether Sharma would play, Gambhir responded: “We’re going to have a look at the wicket and announce a playing XI tomorrow. The answer remains the same.”
Later in the day, Sharma’s absence from India’s slips cordon during training at the SCG fueled further speculation, with Virat Kohli stepping into the first-slip role.
India Faces a Do-or-Die Scenario
Trailing 2-1 in the five-match series, India needs nothing less than a victory in Sydney to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which they have held for nearly a decade. The SCG has historically been a fortress for Australia, with the hosts remaining undefeated at the venue since 2011.
Despite the captaincy drama, Gambhir expressed unwavering confidence in his team’s ability to turn the tide. “We know we’ve got the skill set, we’ve got the individuals, we’ve got everything in that dressing room that can win a Test match here,” he said. “Not only here, (but we can) probably go on to do some unbelievable things in future as well. So extremely confident.”
Rumors of Dressing Room Tensions
The Indian camp has also been dogged by rumors of internal tension, with reports suggesting Gambhir had expressed frustration following last week’s dramatic loss to Australia at the MCG. However, Gambhir dismissed these claims as baseless.
“Those are just reports. That’s not the truth,” Gambhir stated. “There were some honest words, that’s all I can say. And honesty is very important if you want to go on and achieve some great things.”
Speaking further in Hindi, he emphasized: “Debates between a player and a coach should stay between them – any conversations in the dressing room should stay in the dressing room.”
The Final Showdown
The fifth Test between Australia and India begins Friday at the SCG, with the first ball scheduled for 10:30 am AEDT. All eyes will be on Bumrah’s leadership as India aims to defy the odds and reclaim their dominance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
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