Rohit Sharma. (Photo Source: Disney+Hotstar)
India Test captain Rohit Sharma decided to drop himself from India’s playing XI for the fifth and final Test match in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). While there were speculations about his potential retirement from the longest format, the 38-year-old confirmed that he is going nowhere.
In an interview with Jatin Sapru and Irfan Pathan on Star Sports during the Lunch break on Day 2, Rohit explained what went through his mind before he decided to opt out of the fifth Test. The Nagpur-born said that he told the selectors and coach Gautam Gambhir that India needed someone who was in form in place of him, as he had scored just 31 runs from six innings in the series.
“Basically the chat I had with the coach and selector was simple: I am not in form, it is an important match, and we need a player in form. Not thinking too far ahead, right now what the team needs is the priority. I made this decision after we came here (Sydney), it was going on in my mind that it is important for me to step aside because I wasn’t getting runs with the bat,” Rohit said.
“I am sensible, matured and father of 2 kids, so I know what to do when. You need to understand what the team needs, if you do not think about the team, you don’t want those kind of players. We call it a team, so always think about what the team needs. This is my personal thinking and this is how I played my cricket and this is how I am outside cricket as well. I am very transparent as a person,” he added.
Bumrah sets standards with the ball: Rohit
Rohit also heaped praise on stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah, who is leading the side in his absence. The former has seen the right-arm speedster honing his skills from close quarters during their time together at the Mumbai Indians as well as the national team.
Also Read: ‘Faaltu ki bol bachchan’ – Rohit Sharma addresses Sam Konstas-Jasprit Bumrah altercation
“The way he (Bumrah) sets standards with the ball, he is absolute class. When I saw him for the first time in 2013, his graph has gone really high ever since and has gone from strength to strength. Nothing is given in this format of the game, you got to earn it. What happens in leadership is, everyday you will not have a good day. Ideas and mindset can be the same, but sometimes the result won’t work in your favour. We know that a lot of people are going to judge us, but I will never doubt myself. It could be wrong sometimes, but we all go there with a mindset to win. Like yesterday, we should have bowled on that wicket instead of batting, such things happen,” Rohit stated.
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