Rohit Sharma is expected to be dropped from the fifth and deciding Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney due to his poor batting form. This would mark the first instance of an Indian captain being dropped for performance reasons.
Rohit’s struggles with the bat have been evident throughout the series. After joining the team for the second Test, he initially batted at No. 6 in Adelaide and Brisbane before moving to the opening position for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. However, he has managed just 31 runs in five innings, averaging only 6.20. This is the lowest batting average ever recorded by a visiting captain in Australia.
While head coach Gautam Gambhir avoided confirming Rohit’s exclusion, reports suggest the decision has already been made. “Everything is fine with Rohit. I don’t think there’s any issue,” Gambhir said when asked about the captain skipping the pre-match press conference. “The head coach is here, and that’s enough.”
With Rohit out, KL Rahul is expected to return as the opener alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. Shubman Gill, who was dropped for the fourth Test, is likely to make a comeback at No. 3.
The final decision on the playing XI will be announced on the morning of the match, according to the coach. Fans are now waiting to see how the team reshuffle will affect India’s chances in this crucial series decider.
