India skipper Rohit Sharma is reportedly all set to be rested for the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar series. This comes after the 37-year-old came under immense scrutiny for his poor form in the ongoing Australia tour where he has only managed to score 31 runs in the 5 innings he has played so far.
Rohit will likely be replaced by Shubman Gill in the Sydney Test. According to a report by PTI, India head coach Gautam Gambhir received a request from an ‘influential cricket administrator’ to keep Rohit in the playing XI, but it was rejected due to the fact that India’s hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final (WTC) rest on the match.
“It is learnt that an influential cricket administrator, who commands a lot of respect in the BCCI, has had a word with the head coach to explore if the skipper can be allowed to play the Sydney game and bow out from the Test arena. However, the head coach’s priority is to ensure India wins in Sydney and remains in hunt for a place in the WTC final. Such is the state of affairs that Rohit was more comfortable speaking to his deputy Bumrah and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar than Gambhir,” the report claimed.
Ahead of the encounter against Australia in Sydney, Gambhir also refused to confirm whether Rohit will be at the toss alongside Australia skipper Pat Cummins on Friday morning.
“We will take a call on the playing XI after looking at the pitch,” Gambhir replied when asked about whether Rohit will participate in the final Border-Gavaskar series match.
Should Rohit get dropped from captaincy in Sydney Test, then pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is expected to take over the role for the match. Bumrah did captain the Men in Blue to victory in the first Test of the series before getting replaced by Rohit for the role in the second Test.
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