India captain Rohit Sharma "opted to rest" himself from the fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney on Friday, following a string of poor performances in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The decision, which leaves questions over his Test future, saw vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah stepping into the leadership role once again, as he had done in the series-opener when Rohit was on paternity leave.
Bumrah, speaking at the toss, expressed admiration for Rohit’s decision, stating, "Our captain has shown leadership, he has opted to rest. It shows the unity we have in the team."
India, having won the toss, opted to bat first amidst a charged atmosphere at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Rohit’s decision came after a dismal run in the series, where he accumulated just 31 runs in five innings across three Tests. At 37, the seasoned opener and white-ball maestro appeared far from his best, struggling to find rhythm and failing to execute his trademark shots, including the front-foot pull that has often defined his batting.
During the warm-up session ahead of the match, Rohit was spotted engaging in football with teammates Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Sarfaraz Khan, the latter completing the series without a game.
Rohit later had a discussion with team video analyst Hari Prasad before leaving the field close to the toss.
Television cameras later captured him sitting outside the dressing room with fielding coach Ryan ten Doeschate, while head coach Gautam Gambhir maintained a distance.
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar commended Rohit’s selfless decision, remarking on 'X', "So typical of Rohit Sharma. Doing the right thing, doing what’s right for the team. But could not understand the 'cloak & dagger' around the issue. Wasn't even talked about at the toss."
Speculation about Rohit’s future in Test cricket has grown since India’s loss in the fourth Test in Melbourne, leaving them trailing 1-2 in the five-match series.
Rohit’s Test performances in 2024 were his least productive, with the batter amassing only 619 runs in 26 innings at an average of 24.76. Melbourne’s match marked his 67th Test appearance in an 11-year career characterised by ups and downs.
Rohit’s red-ball career found a second wind in 2019 when he was promoted to open the innings, following years of inconsistency in the middle order.
Despite the revival, he could not match his white-ball exploits in Test cricket. Under his leadership, India ended a 15-year wait for a T20 World Cup triumph last year, but his Test form witnessed a steep decline.
Meanwhile, Rohit’s long-time teammate and former skipper Virat Kohli is also under scrutiny for repeated dismissals outside the off-stump during the series.
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