India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir said the playing XI for the final Test will be decided after assessing conditions, leaving Rohit Sharma’s inclusion uncertain. Rohit has struggled with form and captaincy, facing criticism for poor performances in Australia.
India’s Playing XI to Be Announced After Conditions Assessment
India head coach Gautam Gambhir has stated that the playing XI for the final Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground will be decided after assessing the conditions. However, he avoided confirming if captain Rohit Sharma will feature in the match.
Australia leads the series 2-1, with India losing two out of three matches despite their historic win in the first Test at Perth. The Perth victory came under the captaincy of star pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Rohit’s leadership has faced criticism as India also lost 3-0 at home to New Zealand earlier, making it six consecutive Test matches without a win for the Indian skipper.
Press Conference Insights
Gautam Gambhir addressed the pre-match press conference instead of Rohit, breaking the tradition of captains interacting with the media before matches. When asked about Rohit’s absence, Gambhir assured that everything is fine with the 37-year-old.
“Everything is fine with Rohit. It’s not unusual for the head coach to address the press. We’ll examine the pitch and finalize the team tomorrow,” Gambhir said.
When asked again about Rohit’s absence, Gambhir repeated, “The answer remains the same. We’ll decide and announce the playing XI tomorrow after checking the wicket.”
Rohit’s Struggles
Apart from struggles as a captain, Rohit is experiencing a shocking dip in batting form. In three series this season, two of which were at home, Rohit has scored just 164 runs in 15 innings at an average of 10.93. His average after the Melbourne Test dropped to 6.20—the lowest ever by a visiting captain in an Australian Test series (minimum five innings).
Previously, this record belonged to West Indies legend Courtney Walsh, who had an average of 7.75 during the 1996/97 tour of Australia.
As India prepares for the crucial Sydney Test, the focus remains on the team’s final XI and whether Rohit Sharma can find his way back into form.
