India head coach Gautam Gambhir has kept fans and pundits alike on edge by refusing to confirm if captain Rohit Sharma will feature in the upcoming Sydney Test against Australia.
When questioned about the skipper's availability, Gambhir opted for a measured response, stating that the team had yet to finalise their playing XI and would make the decision after assessing the pitch.
Rohit Sharma, who was seen engaging in warm-up routines and shadow practising his batting, remains under scrutiny following lacklustre performances throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Despite his on-field presence during warm-ups, Gambhir refrained from commenting on whether the captain would be included in the playing XI for the final Test of the series.
“The team has not finalised their playing XI yet, and we will have a look at the wicket and make the decision tomorrow,” said Gambhir during a press briefing ahead of the match.
When asked about the absence of Rohit from the press conference, a traditional practice in Test cricket, Gambhir swiftly addressed the concern, stating,
“Everything is fine with Rohit. I don’t think it’s a tradition. The head coach is here. That should be fine, that should be good enough.”
The ongoing speculation surrounding Rohit’s place in the team comes amidst criticism of his recent performances.
Having only managed 31 runs in the first three Tests, some fans and former cricketers, including Aakash Chopra, have suggested that dropping the captain may not be an unfair decision for the Sydney Test.
India’s selection decisions in the series have been highly dynamic, with several surprising moves, including changes in the bowling and batting line-ups across multiple matches.
While Gambhir confirmed the absence of fast bowler Akash Deep due to injury, the question of Rohit’s role remains unanswered, with the coach firmly stating, “The answer is the same.”
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