As the cricketing world gears up for the decisive fifth Test between India and Australia, all eyes are on one question: Will Rohit Sharma take the field in Sydney?
India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has chosen to stay tight-lipped, adding fuel to the fire of speculation surrounding the skipper’s inclusion.
Rohit, who has endured a nightmare series so far, was notably absent from the pre-match press conference. His streak of single-digit scores across five innings in Australia has raised serious concerns about his form—and even his role as captain.
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Gambhir’s Cryptic Responses Leave Fans Wondering
When pressed about Rohit’s availability, Gambhir didn’t offer much clarity. “Everything is fine with Rohit, and I don’t think it’s anything traditional,” he said, brushing off concerns about the skipper’s absence from media duties.
When the same question popped up again, Gambhir stuck to his guns. “The answer is still the same,” he replied, leaving fans and experts guessing.
One thing Gambhir did confirm is that India’s playing XI will only be finalised after assessing the pitch on the eve of the match.
Changes Are Coming, but How Big?
India is already dealing with at least one forced change. Pace bowler Akash Deep has been ruled out due to a back injury, and his replacement will likely be Harshit Rana or Prasidh Krishna.
But with Rohit Sharma and even Virat Kohli under intense scrutiny, could we see bigger changes? Rohit’s struggles have been well-documented, but Kohli hasn’t escaped criticism either.
Despite a century in Perth, Kohli hasn’t been able to string together consistent performances. For a player of his caliber, the expectations are sky-high, and anything less than brilliance invites questions.
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On the flip side, youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Kumar Reddy have turned heads with their impressive performances. Gambhir, however, was quick to dismiss any talk of phasing out senior players in favour of fresh talent.
“It’s not about phasing out senior players or getting the youngsters in. Ultimately, the only thing that can keep you in that dressing room is performance,” Gambhir said.
With the series currently 2-1 in Australia’s favour, the pressure on India is immense. A win in Sydney is non-negotiable if they want to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
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