Sydney: Jasprit Bumrah has taken charge as India’s captain for the decisive fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with Rohit Sharma opting to “rest” following a prolonged lean patch.
The match holds immense significance, with India needing a win to draw the series and retain the trophy they have held for a decade.
Rohit’s recent performances have drawn considerable attention. In the current series, he has managed a dismal average of 6.2 in five innings, a continuation of his struggles during the home season, where he averaged 13.30 in ten innings against Bangladesh and New Zealand.
Shubman Gill replaces Rohit in the playing XI, slotting in at No. 3, as India seeks to revamp its batting strategy in a high-stakes match.
Rohit’s Test career has been a rollercoaster. With 4301 runs in 67 matches at an average of 40.57, his contributions include 12 centuries and 18 fifties. His career-best phase began in 2019 when he transitioned to the opener’s role, scoring 2697 runs at 42.80, including nine hundreds.
As captain, Rohit led India in 24 matches since taking over from Virat Kohli in 2022. Despite his recent struggles, he started 2024 with two centuries against England and captained India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup before retiring from T20Is.
Mid-series, Rohit moved back to the middle order but continued to struggle, with scores of 3, 6, and 10. His return to the opening slot for the Melbourne Test also failed to deliver results.
Jasprit Bumrah lauded Rohit’s decision to step aside, calling it a testament to the team’s unity and the skipper’s commitment to prioritising the team’s interests.
Rohit debuted with centuries in his first two innings, later finding stability after being promoted to the opener’s role in 2019. His journey reflects both brilliance and challenges, underscoring his pivotal role in Indian cricket over the years.
The Sydney Test stands as a critical moment for India to salvage the series and maintain their decade-long dominance over Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
With Bumrah at the helm and strategic changes in place, the team hopes to rise to the occasion.
