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On Thursday, January 2, after Team India head Coach Gautam Gambhir remained tight-lipped on Rohit Sharma’s place in the XI for the fifth Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test in Sydney, recent reports have revealed shocking details. According to sources quoting India Today, Team India skipper Rohit Sharma has opted out to play the fifth and final Test of the series after his dismal run in recent times.
Notably, this move from Sharma comes after he failed to get runs on the board. It is to be noted that across three series, including two at home, Rohit Sharma has scored only 164 runs in 15 innings at an average of 10.93. In the ongoing BGT 2024-25, Rohit Sharma has scored only 31 runs, managing only one double-digit score.
Shubman Gill to replace Rohit Sharma; either of Harshit Rana or Prasidh Krishna to replace injured Akash Deep
With Rohit Sharma likely to be left out of the Indian playing XI for the fifth Test, vice captain Jasprit Bumrah is set to lead the side. Earlier in the Perth Test, Jasprit Bumrah led the side in Rohit’s absence, who was on a paternity break due to the birth of his second child with wife Ritika Sajdeh. Moreover, reports reveal that Shubman Gill is set to come out at No. 3, replacing Rohit in the side.
These reports are making waves after Rohit Sharma did not train in the nets with the first batch of his teammates including Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. The 37-year-old was also absent from the slip cordon during the practice session. He took the nets for only 10 minutes and was then seen having a chat with Gambhir and Bumrah by his side.
Speaking of India’s XI, in Rohit Sharma’s absence, KL Rahul is said to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal with Gill coming out at No. 3. While the order remains more of less same, either of Harshit Rana or Prasidh Krishna are likely to come into the XI with Akash Deep being ruled out of the Sydney Test with back injury.
India’s squad for BGT 2024-25
Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Jadeja, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.
Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed
