Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma reportedly played his last Test match, and it 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 final hopes at stake, they would be desperate to win the fifth and final Test against Australia, starting on Friday, January 3, 2025, at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) to level the series. testing and retaining. the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Rohit Sharma to miss New Year’s Test as Jasprit Bumrah takes over as India captain
Ahead of the New Year’s Test in Sydney, Indian captain Rohit Sharma is said to be “rested” for the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia. The 36-year-old decided to rest for the match while star pacer Jasprit Bumrah will captain the Indian cricket team in the do-or-die encounter against Australia in Sydney.
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The Indian Express confirmed that Rohit Sharma informed head coach Gautam Gambhir and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar about his decision to sit out the New Year’s Test, and the possible reason behind this call was his poor form. with the bat. in the ongoing five-match Test series.
The report further claimed that both Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar accepted the Indian captain’s decision, meaning vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah will be out for the toss on Friday morning at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney.
Shubman Gill to return for SCG Test; Prasidh Krishna to replace injured Akash Deep
Meanwhile, this could also mean that the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne could have been Rohit Sharma’s last Test for India as he is highly unlikely to be part of the Indian cricket team for the next World Cup cycle. Tests (WTC), which begins with a tour of England next summer.
On the other hand, Shubman Gill, who was left out of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, will return to the playing XI in place of Rohit. However, Shubman Gill will bat at number three while KL Rahul will again open for India alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in the New Year’s Test against Australia.
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Contrary to reports, The Indian Express also revealed that Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant will retain his place in the team while Prasidh Krishna will replace the injured Akash Deep, who has been ruled out for the final Test at the SCG.
Gautam Gambhir holds crucial talks with Jasprit Bumrah at SCG
On the eve of the New Year Test, Gautam Gambhir was seen having long and serious conversations with Jasprit Bumrah while the team was conducting field exercises in Sydney. Rohit made a brief appearance in the nets, where he batted with gun bowlers.
Rohit Sharma was one of the last players to join the practice session and was absent during the usual fielding drills at the SCG. Rohit has been struggling mightily for runs, averaging just 6.2 in his last three Tests in Australia and 10.93 in his last nine Test appearances.