Has Rohit Sharma been dropped from India’s squad for the Sydney Test? Multiple media reports have claimed that Rohit Sharma has been dropped from the SCG Test which is scheduled to begin from 3rd January. Furthermore, coach Gautam Gambhir has refused to confirm the skipper’s place during the pre-match press conference. This has left everyone speculating about Rohit’s place in the XI.
Rohit Sharma to be Dropped from the SCG Test?
Asked why Rohit was absent from the press conference and whether he’d feature in the XI, Gambhir was nonchalant. “The head coach is here. That should be good enough. We’ll assess the pitch tomorrow before finalising,” Gambhir said.
Rohit’s absence from slip practice and net sessions further fanned the flames. Instead, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, and Nitish Reddy took over slip-catching duties, while players like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal batted in the nets.
India Suffer Huge Blow Ahead of Sydney Test, Akash Deep Ruled Out Due to Back Injury
Underwhelming Form Adds Pressure on the Skipper
Rohit Sharma’s underwhelming form in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has become a major talking point. In three matches, he’s managed just 31 runs. Adding to the criticism, his body language and leadership on the field have drawn scrutiny, with fans and analysts openly questioning his captaincy.
Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra didn’t mince words. He suggested that dropping Rohit for the final Test wouldn’t be unjustified.
If Rohit is benched, Shubman Gill, who missed the fourth Test, is likely to step in. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah—who led India to a historic win in Perth earlier in the series—is expected to take over the captaincy once again in Rohit’s absence.
India’s Selection Rollercoaster
India’s team combinations throughout the series have been anything but predictable. In Perth, Washington Sundar was chosen as the lone spinner, only to be replaced by Ravichandran Ashwin in Adelaide. Ashwin retired from Test cricket after the third match and left the squad.
Brisbane marked Ravindra Jadeja’s comeback, while Shubman Gill was left out as India opted for a three-all-rounder strategy featuring Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Reddy. On the other hand, Harshit Rana, who made his debut in Perth but struggled in Adelaide, found himself on the bench.
Australia Eyes the Trophy as India Fights to Stay Alive
The pressure is extreme for the Indian team. They are currently trailing 1-2 in the series and enter the SCG test in a must-win situation. Winning this game would keep their hopes of making it to the World Test Championship final alive.
On the other hand, Australia are determined to claim the Border Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2014/15. They have made a huge change to their Playing XI for the Sydney Test. Beau Webster has replaced Mitchell Marsh in what promises to be a thrilling series finale.
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