 "IND vs AUS: 'Doing the right thing, but...', Experts, fans react to Rohit Sharma dropping himself for Sydney Test")
India skipper Rohit Sharma opted to give the fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney a miss . Rohit’s decision to do so comes amid a poor run of form with the bat, with the 37-year-old having scored just 31 runs from three Tests in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Like he did in the first Test in Perth, Jasprit Bumrah is leading India in the Sydney Test in Rohit’s absence.
‘Doing the right thing’: Manjrekar on Rohit resting himself
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar said that while Rohit did what was right for the team, he was perplexed by the mystery surrounding the Mumbai cricketer’s absence from the playing XI. “So typical of Rohit Sharma. Doing the right thing, doing what’s right for the team. But could not understand the ‘cloak & dagger’ around the issue. Wasn’t even talked about at the toss,” Manjrekar posted on “X”.
Manjrekar said on commentary that it was mysterious why Ravi Shastri did not ask Jasprit Bumrah about Rohit Sharma. “Very mysterious, why Ravi Shastri didn’t ask Jasprit Bumrah about Rohit Sharma at the toss,” the cricketer-turned commentator said on air.
Irfan Pathan backed Rohit’s decision to drop himself from the playing XI. “Rohit Sharma knows that he isn’t able to perform his best with the bat. He knows that ‘I am not in a mood to fight, so I will drop myself’. That’s what Rohit thought. He also thought from the team’s perspective by sacrificing his spot for Shubman Gill,” Irfan Pathan said on-air.
Former Australia cricketer Mark Taylor, on the other hand, suggested that Rohit was dropped, and not merely rested. “To be honest, that’s, what do I call that. That’s once again, sidestepping the point. The bottom line is the captain of a country does not opt out for the final Test match, the final deciding Test match of a series. He has been dropped and I don’t know why they just don’t say he’s been dropped.
“That doesn’t mean he’s dropped forever, it means he’s missing this match because he is out of form. That is unfortunately professional sports,” Taylor said on Triple M radio channel.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsDie-hard fans, however, vented their frustration on not getting to watch Rohit play in Sydney. Here are a few reactions:
You all must be happy that he is not playing 🙂
— Ayush Rajput (@Ayush_Rajput17) January 3, 2025
I can't see him like this 💔🥺#RohitSharma #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/0WKNAAtkN6
Selfless captain...
— Stranger (@Candid_Stranger) January 3, 2025
Who gave his position to #Shubhmangill it needs courage. #INDvsAUS #BGT #RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/5Tsy5bKOXs
Rohit Sharma changed his batting position in last Test and now he lost his rhythm 💔
— Aarav (@kohli_pagluu) January 3, 2025
Cricket is BRUTAL!
— Navaldeep Singh (@NavalGeekSingh) January 3, 2025
I feel for Rohit Sharma tbh
Australia lead the five-match Test series against India 2-1 after four Tests. India won the first Test in Perth by 295 runs, but have lost the plot ever since, losing two matches and drawing another. A win for India in Sydney will help them retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series with a 2-2 margin.
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