BGT 2024-25: "We'll finalise it tomorrow" Gautam Gambhir refuses to confirm Rohit Sharma's place in playing XI for Sydney test

Gautam Gambhir addressed the pre-match press conference in Sydney and not captain Rohit Sharma.

Less than 24 hours before the fifth BGT 2024-25 test kicks off in Sydney, there is a huge intrigue regarding the make-up of India’s playing XI for the last test that they must win in order to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and keep themselves alive in the race to the ICC WTC 2023-25 final.

This is because there are hints that India captain Rohit Sharma might be dropped from the Sydney test. Head coach Gautam Gambhir denied to confirm Rohit’s place in the playing XI and said the team will be finalized based on the pitch!

It’s difficult to recall the last instance in international cricket when a captain’s place in the side was to be confirmed based on the pitch!

Gambhir addressed the pre-match press conference in Sydney, something that is a captain’s unofficial duty. Gambhir, though, didn’t think it was a big deal.

“Everything is fine with Rohit and I don’t think it’s anything traditional. The head coach is here and that should be good enough,” said the coach.

Will Rohit Sharma be dropped from the Sydney test?

Gambhir was queried twice over the place of Rohit in the line-up for the SCG test. Both times, the head coach refused to confirm the skipper’s selection. Weirdly, Gambhir said the playing XI will be decided on the match day after observing the pitch.

“We are going to have a look at the wicket and finalise it tomorrow,” Gambhir said.

When asked again about Rohit, he asserted, “As I just said we are going to have a look at the wicket and announce our playing XI tomorrow. The answer remains the same.”

Rohit has been in horrendous form on this tour. In three tests against Australia, while batting both in middle-order and as an opener, Sharma has managed only 31 runs at an average of 6.2 with a highest score of 10.

He’s been in a poor form in test cricket since the home season. In 15 innings of the eight tests against Bangladesh, New Zealand and Australia, Rohit has scored 164 runs at an average of merely 10.93 with only one score of over 30.

If Rohit is dropped for the Sydney test, Jasprit Bumrah will take over the captaincy duties, having led India to a famous win in Perth in the first test of the series.

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