India head coach Gautam Gambhir declined to confirm if Rohit Sharma would play the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test at the SCG during a press conference that many expected the under-fire captain to attend. Speaking on the eve of the decisive Test, Gambhir remained tight-lipped, fuelling speculation that the 37-year-old skipper might be axed. Rohit, struggling with the bat and leading a side trailing 2-1 in the five-match series, was a surprising omission from the pre-match media interaction, with Gambhir stepping in at the last minute.
When asked directly if Rohit would play, Gambhir deflected, stating that the final XI would only be decided after assessing the pitch. Rohit’s form this season has been dismal. Across three series, including two at home, he has managed just 164 runs in 15 innings at an average of 10.93, with only one half-century. On the ongoing tour of Australia, he has contributed just 31 runs, including a solitary double-digit score.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Full Coverage
Shortly after the press conference, the Indian head coach was spotted overseeing practice at the SCG, where Rohit’s absence from the slip cordon raised eyebrows. Virat Kohli took over at first slip, with KL Rahul shifting to second and Nitish Kumar Reddy occupying third. Regulars Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal retained their positions at wicketkeeper and gully, respectively.
If Rohit is dropped, it could pave the way for Shubman Gill’s return at No. 3, with KL Rahul opening alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. Gambhir, while revealing that pacer Akash Deep was ruled out with a back injury, offered no clarity on the batting lineup. Gill was seen in conversation with Gambhir during practice, receiving a pat on the back before being approached by Jasprit Bumrah. The exchanges suggested good news for the young batter, who missed the fourth Test in Melbourne to accommodate Washington Sundar. Gill then batted confidently in the nets, with his father watching from nearby steps.
Should Rohit miss out, Bumrah will lead India in the final Test. A win at the SCG is crucial for India to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Notably, India’s solitary win in the series came in Perth under Bumrah’s captaincy. Meanwhile, the Melbourne defeat, coupled with a stunning 3-0 home series loss to New Zealand earlier, extended Rohit’s winless streak as captain to six Tests. His batting average of 6.20 in the Australian series is now the lowest for a touring captain in Australia with a minimum of five innings, surpassing Courtney Walsh’s record of 7.75 in 1996/97.
There is also a school of thought that the Indian team management is deliberating on Rishabh Pant’s position in the XI. Pant’s dismissals due to reckless shots at the MCG drew significant criticism, including Sunil Gavaskar’s viral “Stupid, stupid, stupid” rant on the commentary.
Pant was expected to be a game-changer on the tour of Australia, especially given his heroics in the 2020/21 series Down Under. However, the wicketkeeper-batter has managed just 154 runs in seven innings in the ongoing series, averaging only 22, with no fifty-plus scores. If India benches Pant, Dhruv Jurel, who played just one match in the series, scoring 11 and 1 in Perth, will be tested in Sydney.
Gambhir also confirmed Akash Deep’s unavailability for the New Year Test due to a stiff back but refrained from naming a replacement. Mohammed Siraj seemed to bowl better when he was brought in as the first change after Bumrah and Akash Deep had built pressure with the new ball. With Akash ruled out due to a stiff back, India will have to rejig their bowling attack, with either Prasidh Krishna or Harshit Rana set to replace him.
India Predicted Playing XI for 5th Test: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma/Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant/Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna/Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
