Bold call from Rohit Sharma to rest himself for Sydney Test: Ravi Shastri

India head coach Ravi Shastri feels that it was a bold call by Rohit Sharma to rest himself for the final Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Shastri, who presented the toss for the broadcaster, spoke to stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah told Shastri that Rohit was an unselfish captain and had opted to rest himself so that India could field their best line-up for the SCG Test.

Shastri was asked about his thoughts while commentating during the match. The former India head coach said that it was a bold call for the captain to own up and say ‘I am prepared to take the bench’.

“That’s what Jasprit said at the toss before I could even ask him. He said the captain opted to sit out and said the team would be stronger if Shubman Gill plays. It can happen when you’re out of sorts, you’re mentally not there, you don’t have the runs under your belt. It still is a brave call for a captain to own up and say, you know, I’m prepared to take the bench in this game,” Ravi Shastri said.

Incidentally, Sharma did not even make it to the 16-member squad for the Sydney Test but was seen sitting at the Indian dressing room. Shastri further spoke on the matter and said that with no home season in sight. Sharma might pull the plug on his Test career and retire from the format.

“If there was a home season coming up, he might have thought of carrying on, but I think he might just pull the plug at the end of this Test. He’s not getting younger, he’s 38 years of age. It’s not that India don’t have youngsters, there are some very, very good players in the wings, and it’s time to build. It’s a tough decision, but there’s a time for everything,” Ravi Shastri said.

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar lauded Rohit’s decision on the broadcast and on X as well. Manjrekar said that the decision was typical of Rohit Sharma, who put himself ahead of the team.

“So typical of Rohit Sharma. Doing the right thing, doing what’s right for the team. But could not understand the ‘cloak & dagger’ around the issue. Wasn’t even talked about at the toss,” Sanjay Manjrekar said.

India made two changes to their line-up on Friday, 3 January. The Indian team brought in Shubman Gill in place of Rohit, who was dropped from his No.3 position. The return of Gill saw KL Rahul move back to his natural opening position, where he saw incredible success in the Perth Test match. The team made another change in the playing XI – with Prasidh Krishna replacing the injured Akash Deep.

India Playing XI at the SCG

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah(c), Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj.