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Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma has reportedly played his last Test match, and that was the Boxing Day Test where the tourists suffered a 184-run defeat against Australia in Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne last month.
With India’s WTC 2025 finals hopes hanging in the balance, they would be desperate to win the fifth and final Test against Australia, starting Friday January 3, 2025 at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) to level the Test . series and retain the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Rohit Sharma to miss New Year 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 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The 36-year-old has decided to rest for the match, with star Jasprit Bumrah captaining the Indian cricket team in the encounter with Australia in Sydney.
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The Indian Express confirmed that Rohit Sharma has informed head coach Gautam Gambhir and the chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkarabout his decision not to take part in the New Year Test, and the possible reason for this call-up 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 have accepted the Indian captain’s decision, which means vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah will be out for the toss on Friday morning at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in sydney
Shubman Gill set to return for SCG Test; Prasidh Krishna will replace the 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 cycle of the World Trials Championship (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, is set to return to the playing eleven in place of Rohit. However, Shubman Gill will bat at number three while KL Rahul will once again open for India alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in the New Year Test against Australia.
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 Deepwhich has been left out of the final test at the SCG.
Gautam Gambhir engages in crucial talks with Jasprit Bumrah at the SCG
On the eve of the New Year’s Test, Gautam Gambhir was seen having long and serious talks with Jasprit Bumrah as the team went through field drills in Sydney. Rohit made a brief appearance in the nets, where he batted with bowlers.
Rohit Sharma was one of the last players to join the practice session and was absent during the regular batting practice at the SCG. Rohit has really struggled for runs, averaging just 6.2 in his last three Tests in Australia and 10.93 in his last nine Test appearances.
