Due to his poor batting performance in the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India skipper Rohit Sharma’s spot in the starting lineup for the series-decider in Sydney is under close scrutiny. Sharma’s performance has been a serious worry, with only 31 runs in five innings, casting doubt on his ability to stay in the team.
The Challenges Rohit Sharma Faced in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Recent efforts by Rohit Sharma in Australia have not been particularly noteworthy. He has only scored 31 runs in five innings of the current series, with scores of 3, 6, 10, 3, and 9, for an average of just 6.20. Calls for his dismissal from the team have been fueled by the fact that this has been the lowest batting average for any touring skipper on Australian territory. Jasprit Bumrah has taken more wickets overall in this series than Rohit Sharma has runs.
Sharma’s difficulties with the bat are further highlighted by the fact that in 15 Test innings in 2024, he has failed to reach double figures 10 times. Particularly with the series at stake, his persistently bad play has put further strain on his role as captain of India.
Gautam Gambhir Postpones Including Rohit Sharma in the Starting XI
Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of India, responded to the mounting doubts over Rohit Sharma’s spot in the starting lineup for the last Test match. Gambhir stated at a press conference that the final decision will be taken after evaluating the pitch conditions, although he did not explicitly confirm whether Sharma would be included in the squad for the Sydney Test.
Every player knows where they need to grow, and the team should be the only one to discuss player performance, Gambhir said. Gambhir stated, “Everything is fine with Rohit, and we will announce the playing XI tomorrow after seeing the pitch.” He implied that the choice will be based on a number of variables, such as team strategy and pitch conditions.
Gambhir talked down the importance of Rohit’s absence from the news conference, saying that the head coach’s presence should be adequate in these circumstances.
The emphasis of India is on winning in Sydney.
Gambhir said he was certain India could win the Sydney Test and keep the Border-Gavaskar Trophy despite the burden on Sharma’s form. He reaffirmed that the team’s only goal is still to win the next game, and the players are debating how to do so strategically.
Gambhir went on to say, “We are very confident to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.” His remarks demonstrated the team’s will to maintain concentrate on the current job in spite of outside distractions related to individual performances.
Gambhir said that bowler Akash Deep will miss the last Test because of a back injury, adding to the worries over Sharma’s condition. This makes things more difficult for India as they get ready for the series finale in Sydney.
India’s hopes of winning the World Test Championship are at stake.
In addition to winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India is also under pressure to guarantee its spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s the following year. Australia now leads the series 2-1 after losing by 184 runs in Melbourne, and India has to win in Sydney to maintain their chances of making it to the WTC Final.
The Indian squad faces a crucial test in Sydney, where the WTC Final berth and the series are on the line. Whether India can recover and keep the Border-Gavaskar Trophy would depend heavily on the ability of important players, like as Rohit Sharma.
