India captain Rohit Sharma is sitting out the final Test against Australia in Sydney following a poor run of form with the bat.
The 37-year-old has scored just 31 runs in five innings in the series at an average of 6.20, while his average across his last eight games is a measly 10.93, with a best of 23 against Bangladesh in September.
Stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah insisted Rohit had opted to “rest” himself, saying after winning the toss and electing to bat: “Our captain has shown leadership.
“That shows there’s a lot of unity in this team. There’s no selfishness. Whatever is in the team’s best interest we are looking to do that.”
Rohit has scored just 31 runs in five innings in Australia this winter
Rumours have swirled that Rohit – who has been replaced in the XI by Shubman Gill – could announce his retirement from Test cricket, although he has not publicly spoken about that as of yet.
India are 2-1 down and need a win at the SCG win to snatch a series draw and stay in contention to face South Africa in June’s World Test Championship final at Lord’s.
An Australia victory in Sydney will ensue Pat Cummins’ side play the Proteas.
India won the opening Test in Perth by 295 runs, with Bumrah in charge while Rohit was on paternity leave, but then lost the second in Adelaide by 10 wickets before a rain-affected draw in Brisbane was followed by a 184-run victory for Australia in Melbourne.
Jasprit Bumrah will captain India at the SCG
Rohit has captained India in 24 Tests since succeeding Virat Kohli in the role in 2022, winning 12, losing nine and drawing three.
The right-hander announced his retirement from T20 international cricket after India won the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean in June following a seven-run victory over South Africa in the final.
India off-spinner Ravichandan Ashwin retired from all international cricket after the third Test against Australia in Brisbane.