Jasprit Bumrah captain; Rohit Sharma IS OUT; India’s Test XI for Australia in Sydney leaked
Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma reportedly played his last Test match, which was the Boxing Day Test, where the tourists suffered a 184-run defeat against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne last month.
With India’s 2025 WTC finals hopes hanging in the balance, they are desperate to win the fifth and final Test against Australia, starting on Friday, January 3, 2025, at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) to tie the Test series and retain the prestigious Border-Gavaskar trophy.
Rohit Sharma is set to miss the New Year’s Test as Jasprit Bumrah takes over as India captain
Ahead of the New Year Test in Sydney, India captain Rohit Sharma was said to be ‘rested’ for the fifth and final Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The 36-year-old has decided to rest for the match, with star paceman Jasprit Bumrah captaining the Indian cricket team in a do-or-die encounter against Australia in Sydney.
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The Indian Express has confirmed that Rohit Sharma has informed head coach Gautam Gambhir and the chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkarabout his decision to sit out the New Year’s Test, the possible reason for this call being his poor form with the bat in the ongoing five-match Test series.
The report further claims that both Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar have agreed with the Indian captain’s decision, which means that the vice-captain, Jasprit Bumrah, will take the toss on Friday morning at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney.
Shubman Gill ready to return for SCG Test; Prasidh Krishna will replace the injured Akash Deep
Meanwhile, it could also mean that the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne could be Rohit Sharma’s last Test for India, as he is unlikely to be part of the Indian cricket team for the next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, which begins with the tours to England next summer.
On the other hand, Shubman Gill, who was left out of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, is expected to return to the playing XI in place of Rohit. However, Shubman Gill will bat at number three while KL Rahul will return to India along with Yashasvi Jaiswal for the New Year Test against Australia.
Contrary to reports, The Indian Express also revealed that Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant will retain his place in the squad, while Prasidh Krishna will replace the injured Akash Deepwho was excluded from the final exam at SCG.
Gautam Gambhir enters crucial talks with Jasprit Bumrah at SCG
Ahead of the New Year’s Test, Gautam Gambhir was seen having long, serious talks with Jasprit Bumrah as the team took field practice in Sydney. Rohit made a brief appearance in the nets, where he hit bowlers of side balls.
Rohit Sharma was one of the last players to join the training session and was absent during the usual slip fielding drills at the SCG. Rohit has struggled badly with runs, averaging just 6.2 in the last three Tests in Australia and 10.93 in his last nine Test appearances.
