Last Updated on 3 weeks by Charbel Coorey
In the worst-kept secret in the last 24 hours, Rohit Sharma has been excluded from the Indian lineup for the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). A report from The Indian Express suggested he opted out, which Jasprit Bumrah reiterated at the toss.
“Obviously, our captain [Rohit Sharma] has shown his leadership as well. He’s opted to rest in this game,” Bumrah said. “So that shows that there’s a lot of unity in our team. There’s no selfishness. Whatever is in the team’s best interest, we’re looking to do that.”
Rohit has struggled as Test captain in recent months, overseeing a 3-0 home loss to New Zealand and two losses in three matches in Australia. His batting form has also been of huge concern, hitting just 31 runs at an average of 6.2 in the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT).
ALSO READ: Australian perspective – does Rohit Sharma’s omission give India a better chance of winning?
Fans react to Rohit Sharma “opting out” of the SCG Test
Hence, fans are skeptical of the official reason that Rohit decided the rest himself. There have been conflicting reports over the past day that Rohit had been dropped, while others claimed he was “rested”.
Sanjay Manjrekar was critical of how the whole episode has been handled. “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,” he wrote on X.
Regardless of the reason, a number of Indian supporters were relieved to see Bumrah walk out for the toss, hoping to see the team recreate the performance they displayed at Perth in late November.
“What is opting to rest? This sounds like such a PR written line,” one fan wrote on X. “Are you seriously suggesting that Bumrah, Siraj, Kohli, and others can endure all five matches, yet Rohit Sharma, after contributing almost nothing, requires rest?,” another fan wrote.
India won the toss and decided to bat in their must-win Test. It is considered a brave decision given the green nature of the SCG pitch, but a good score batting first can set the game up.
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