India captain Rohit Sharma sensationally dropped for decisive fifth Test v Australia in Sydney

Struggling skipper Rohit Sharma is set to be sensationally dropped for the decisive fifth Test, with Jasprit Bumrah poised to captain India in Sydney.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma is set to be sensationally dropped for the decisive fifth Test.

Having been pulled at the 11th hour from speaking at the traditional pre-Test Kirribilli House function on New Year’s Day, Rohit was then a conspicuous absentee from the pre-match press conference on the eve of the Test. Perhaps most tellingly, he did not feature in the slips cordon as India did fielding practice on the SCG.

Late on Thursday evening The Indian Express reported that a decision has been made to ‘rest’ Rohit for the final Test – although this would appear to be team India’s way of trying to gently massage what is undeniably an explosive bombshell and possibly the end of Rohit’s Test career.

Rohit Sharma is set to be sensationally dropped for the decisive fifth Test. Picture: Getty Images

Jasprit Bumrah is set to captain India in Sydney, just as he did for the first Test in Perth when Rohit was back home for the birth of his child – the only Test India has so far won this summer.

The Indian Express claimed that it was Rohit who told his coach and selectors that he wanted to “opt out” of the Sydney Test.

India coach Gautam Gambhir rocked up to the media room instead of Rohit then refused to guarantee the veteran would play.

Gambhir would confirm only that paceman Akash Deep would miss the fifth Test with a back injury but otherwise said that the team would be revealed on Friday pending another inspection of the SCG wicket.

Shubman Gill – who was dropped for the MCG Test – will return in place of Rohit, with Gill receiving backslaps from teammates at training, while Rohit eventually batted, albeit after the rest of the regular top six.

Rohit watched on from a distance once the Indians hit the nets, with Gambhir and Bumrah engaged in a lengthy conversation.

Rohit Sharma (right) inspects the SCG pitch with Jasprit Bumrah and coach Gautam Gambhir. Picture: Getty Images

Earlier, it was Gambhir and Bumrah who inspected the SCG pitch, before Rohit belatedly trudged out to join them.

It is conventional although not mandatory for captains rather than coaches to attend the match eve press conference.

Gambhir however sought to downplay the significance of his attendance in place of Rohit.

“Everything is fine with Rohit,” Gambhir said.

“The head coach is here, that should be fine, that should be good enough.”

Although it was obvious Gambhir was trying to perform one of the great smothers, trying to deny what already seemed inevitable – Rohit was gone and his Test career perhaps over.

Asked repeatedly whether Rohit would be part of the XI to face Australia in Sydney, Gambhir refused to confirm the place of his captain.

“We’ll have a look at the wicket and finalise it tomorrow.”

Rohit Sharma skipped a media call ahead of the final Test at the SCG. Picture: AFP

Things looked even more ominous for Rohit after the press conference.

Usually a member of the cordon, Rohit wasn’t present, with Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Yashasvi Jaiswal trying to snaffle edges alongside wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who appears likely to have kept his spot despite his baffling dismissals in Melbourne.

Rohit, 37, has not scored more than 18 in his past nine Test innings. Having missed the first Test of this series following the birth of his child, he batted down the order in the second and third Tests before moving back up to open at the MCG.

The coach meanwhile refused to elaborate on reports of disharmony within the squad. An Indian Express story earlier in the week detailed home truths issued by Gambhir following the tourists’ capitulation on day five of the Boxing Day Test. India’s 184-run loss in the fourth Test means the tourists must win in Sydney to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, silverware they have held since 2017.

“Those are just reports. That’s not the truth. I don’t think I need to answer,” Gambhir said.

But Gambhir conceded there had been “some honest words” behind closed doors.

“Indian cricket will always be in safe hands, as long as we have honest people sitting in that room,” he said.

“Honesty is the most important thing for any transition. It is not about phasing out senior players or getting younger people in.

“Ultimately, the only thing that can keep you in that dressing room is the performance, and that starts with all of us. Not only the players, but the coaches as well.

“With the talent in Indian cricket, we will always be in safe hands. There will be times when we may not get the results and we’ll have to be patient.

“But more importantly, rather than only criticise the younger players, we’ve got to give them time to develop as well and they’ll end up becoming world-class players. That is what’s important.

“It is the role not only of the support staff, but you people (the media) as well and how you can’t only criticise them, but try to help them out as well.

“Transition is for the entire country, and all of us are in it together.”

Gambhir also insisted that he remained “extremely confident” that India could turn things around at the SCG to salvage a drawn series and keep its World Test Championship final qualification hopes alive.