IND vs AUS: Rohit Sharma opts out as Jasprit Bumrah named captain for Sydney Test; Shubman Gill, Prasidh Krishna return

India captain Rohit Sharma made the decision to sit out of the playing XI for the fifth and final Test match against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. In his absence, Jasprit Bumrah took on the role of leading the team at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Shubman Gill was brought in to replace Rohit and will be taking on the batting duties at No. 3, while KL Rahul will be returning as an opener.

Speculation surrounding Rohit had been circulating since the team's loss in Melbourne, where his performance as an opener did not meet expectations. This led to a reshuffling of the top-order line-up, with an in-form KL Rahul being moved down the batting order and Gill being left on the bench.

 Here's #TeamIndia's Playing XI 

UPDATES  https://t.co/cDVkwfEkKm#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/BO2pofWZzx

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 2, 2025

The rumors reached a peak on the eve of the game when Gautam Gambhir made a cryptic remark during a press conference, hinting that the playing XI would be influenced by the conditions at the SCG. Rohit's absence from the slip cordon during fielding drills in Sydney further fueled speculation.

This is the second time that Bumrah has led the Indian side during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, with his previous experience resulting in a significant victory in Perth. However, his first stint as Test skipper came during the 2022 rescheduled Test against England in Birmingham, which ended in a loss for the team.

Rohit, who is 37 years old has faced criticism throughout the series for his poor performance with the bat, scoring only 31 runs in five innings. This dismal record has contributed to his overall struggles in the format since September, with just 164 runs across three series and an average of just over 10.

Overall, the decision for Rohit to step down from the playing XI and for Bumrah to lead the team reflects the team's commitment to making strategic changes in order to improve their performance on the field.

Also read| IND vs AUS: Jasprit Bumrah needs 3 wickets in Sydney Test to create history in Border-Gavaskar Trophy