Rohit Sharma Likely to Miss Final Test, Bumrah to Lead

Sydney: Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma is expected to be rested for the final Test against Australia, with Jasprit Bumrah likely to lead the side in his absence, reliable sources revealed on Thursday. Rohit, who missed the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to personal reasons, has managed just 31 runs across the three Tests played so far.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the final Test, head coach Gautam Gambhir emphasized the team’s collective mindset. “Every player knows his role. There is only one ideology – the team comes first,” Gambhir stated.

He further explained, “Players must adapt to what the team requires. You can maintain your natural game, but if the team needs you to play differently, you have to respond. Akashdeep is ruled out of the fifth Test due to a back injury.”

Addressing questions about Rohit’s status, Gambhir reassured reporters that the final decision regarding the playing XI would be announced after assessing the pitch conditions. “Everything is fine with Rohit. We will announce the team tomorrow. Our focus is solely on winning the next Test as it holds great significance for us,” Gambhir concluded.

Australia currently leads the five-match series 2-1 following their emphatic 184-run victory over India in the Melbourne Test. The result dashed India’s hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s next year.

The final match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to commence on January 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).