India captain Rohit Sharma sits out the final Test against Australia in Sydney after a poor performance with the bat.
The 37-year-old has scored just 31 runs in five innings in the series at an average of 6.20, while his average in his last eight matches is 10.93, with a best of 23 against Bangladesh in September.
Stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah revealed that Rohit chose to ‘rest’ himself, saying after winning the toss and choosing to bat: ‘Our skipper has shown leadership.
He added, “This shows that there is a great deal of unity in this team. There is no selfishness. Whatever is in the best interest of the team, we look forward to doing it.”
Rohit has scored just 31 runs in five innings in Australia this winter
Rumors have been rife that Rohit might announce his retirement from Test cricket, although he is yet to speak publicly about it.
India are 2-1 down and need to win at the SCG to snatch a draw and stay in contention to face South Africa in the World Test Championship final in June at Lord’s.
A win for Australia will see Pat Cummins’ side play the Proteas.
India won the opening Test in Perth by 295 runs, with Bumrah in charge while Rohit was on paternity leave, but then lost second place in Adelaide by 10 wickets before a rain-affected draw in Brisbane, followed by Australia’s 184-run victory. In Melbourne.
Jasprit Bumrah will captain India at the SCG
Rohit has led India in 24 Tests since succeeding Virat Kohli in the role in 2022, winning 12, losing nine and drawing three.
The right-hander announced his retirement from international T20 cricket after India won the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean in June with a seven-run win over South Africa in the final.
India off-spinner Ravichandan Ashwin retired from all international cricket after the third Test against Australia in Brisbane.
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