Watch: “I’m Where I Stand”

India captain Rohit Sharma attended the press conference after the team’s loss to Australia in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. As expected, Rohit was asked some tough questions after the disappointing individual and team performance.

However, there was a time when Rohit Sharma was at his best. The Indian skipper was asked where he stands now as a captain and batsman after this defeat. Rohit replied wittily and said, “I am where I am today.”

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Rohit Sharma backs India to level series in Sydney

Beyond the defeat, Rohit Sharma spoke about his own performance as a batsman and stated that it will be a challenge. He was disappointed with his own performance individually and with the team’s performance as well.

“A lot of the things I’m trying to do are not coming out as a batsman. Mentally it’s a challenge. It’s a big disappointment. At the moment, that’s where it is at,” Rohit told reporters.

However, the Indian skipper is still confident in his team and believes that India will look to end the series on a high with a win in Sydney. Australia are currently 2-1 in the series.

“There are things we have to look at as a team, I also have to look at myself personally. There is still one game to go. If we play well, it will be two. A draw will be very nice (result),” he added.

Rohit Sharma Press Conference: I am where I am today. Few results have not come out as captain and the batsman is disappointing. Mentally it’s disturbing. But from now on it is where it is where there are things that as a team we have to look at. #BGT #INDvsAUS #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/6Xp7cT5Wt4

— shaziya abbas (@abbas_shaz) December 30, 2024

Jasprit Bumrah continues his wicket-taking form

Meanwhile, the fifth day of the Test began with Jasprit Bumrah claiming another five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Bumrah finished with 5-57 in Australia’s second innings. He had already taken 4-99 in the first innings of the match.

With India needing 340 runs to win, skipper Rohit Sharma looked solid up front but was dismissed for another single-digit score (9). KL Rahul was also dismissed cheaply and brought Virat Kohli to the crease.

Kohli looked solid at the start but lost his wicket at lunch. He is dismissed by Mitchell Starc for just 5. With three wickets down, Rishabh Pant joined Yashasvi Jaiswal and both began the rebuilding work.

Australia get a memorable win

Both changed their aggressive style of play and batted patiently to frustrate the Australian bowlers. Jaiswal and Pant played the entire second session without losing a wicket. With Australia needing seven wickets in the last session, the match looked set for a draw.

But Travis Head took the wicket of Pant to open the floodgates for the hosts again. India kept losing wickets in bunches against the relentless Australian attack. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was controversially dismissed for 84 off 208 well-made balls.