Australia great firm on dropping Rohit Sharma for a series-deciding match

Indian captain Rohit Sharma chose to "take a break" from the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney, after a string of disappointing performances. The 37-year-old batsman, who only scored 31 runs in five innings during the previous three Tests, has been grappling with poor form. Even his signature shots like the front foot pull have been lacking conviction.

This move raises fresh questions about his future in Test cricket, especially as his struggles have coincided with India’s overall difficulties in the series. Rohit's decision to step aside was taken after much deliberation, but former Australia batter Mark Taylor wasn't entirely convinced with Rohit having an autonomy over the decision.

Taylor believes Rohit was “dropped” and expressed his surprise at the word not being used to denote his absence from the playing XI.

“To be honest, that is sidestepping the point. The bottomline is, the captain of a country doesn't opt out for the final Test, the deciding Test match of the series. It's no doubt he has been dropped, I don't know why they just don't say he has been dropped,” Taylor told Triple M Cricket.

“It doesn't mean he has been dropped forever. It just means he is missing this Test match because he is out of form, that's not a problem. That's unfortunately professional sports, and Shubman Gill comes back in.”

Bumrah on Rohit

Jasprit Bumrah, who has previously captained the side in Rohit’s absence during a paternity leave, took over the leadership duties for the match.

At the toss, Bumrah explained the situation, stating, “Our captain has shown leadership, he has opted to rest.” He further emphasized the cohesion within the Indian team, adding, “It shows the unity we have in the team.”

With the series hanging in the balance, Bumrah faces the pressure of steering India towards a series-equalling win and help the side retain the trophy. While Rohit's absence adds to the pressure, it also provides an opportunity for the team to recalibrate and focus on securing a win in the final Test.

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