India’s captain Rohit Sharma walks off the field after losing his wicket during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Former Australia captain Mark Taylor has taken a sly dig on Rohit Sharma, who has been dropped from the playing xi in the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
“The bottom line is, the captain of a country does not opt out for the final test match, the final deciding test match of a series,” Mark Taylor said on Triple M.
“He’s no doubt, he’s been dropped. And I don’t know why they just don’t say he’s been dropped.
Rohit Sharma has… chosen to rest? 🤔
Mark Taylor: “He’s been dropped and I don’t know why they don’t just say he’s been dropped.”#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/SHfHCuJwcn
— Triple M Cricket (@triplemcricket) January 2, 2025
“It doesn’t mean he’s dropped forever. It means he’s missing this test match because he’s been out of form.
“That’s not a crime. That’s unfortunately professional sport and that’s what’s happened.”
In the pre-match press conference, when asked about Rohit Sharma, coach Gautam Gambhir had said: “Everything is fine with Rohit and I don’t think it’s (the captain’s presence at the press conference) anything traditional. The head coach is here and that should be fine.”
At the toss, Jasprit Bumrah has said Rohit has opted to rest.
“Our captain has shown leadership by opting to rest in this game,” Bumrah said at the toss.
“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.”
With scores of 3, 6, 10, 3 and 9 at an average of 6.2 for the series, Sharma has had a wretched tour since coming back into the side for the second test after he missed India’s comprehensive first test win in Perth on paternity leave.
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