Picture Credit: X
After Rohit Sharma clarified on his decision to opt out of the fifth Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test at the Sydey Cricket Ground, former India cricketer and teammate of Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina has hailed the Indian skipper on his leadership and selfless approach. Earlier during lunch on Day 2 of the Sydney Test, Rohit Sharma in an exclusive chat with Jatin Sapru and Irfan Pathan from Star Sports, clarified that he stood out, dismissing the rumours of being dropped, omitted from the India XI.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Sydney Test, Rohit Sharma told the broadcasters, “I have stood down from this Test but I am not going anywhere. This is not a retirement or moving away from the format. A guy with a mic, pen or laptop, what they write or say, it doesn't matter. They cannot decide for us. I took the call to stand down after coming to Sydney. Yes, runs are not coming but there is no guarantee that you won't be able to score two months down the line or six months down the line. I am mature enough to know what I am doing.”
Suresh Raina lauds Rohit Sharma’s selfless approach after Sydney omission
Raina took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his admiration for the Indian skipper. “Rohit Sharma exemplifies leadership through honesty and selflessness. Despite personal challenges, he prioritizes team success, stepping aside when necessary. His leadership in the current Test series reflects his unwavering dedication to India’s success. A true legend of the game,” Suresh Raina posted on X.
It is to be noted that Rohit Sharma was seen speaking to the players on the field during drinks break. Early on Day 2, Rohit walked in to the field, carrying drinks and opted to speak with stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant. Speaking on Rohit Sharma’s performance in the ongoing BGT 2024-25, across three Tests, the 37-year-old has scored 31 runs at a comparatively lower average. His highest score in the BGT series was 10.
