Synopsis
Is this the end of Rohit’s test career? Uncertainty looms over Rohit Sharma’s place in the playing XI for the Sydney test. Jasprit Bumrah is likely to lead India. Even if Rohit plays, which seems unlikely, it could potentially be his last game as India’s Test captain. Getty Images India’s only win on this tour so far in Perth came under Bumrah’s leadership, solidifying his position as natural heir to the red-ball captaincy. There was a certain edginess about the Indian net session on Thursday, the eve of the fifth and final Test in Sydney. The stakes couldn’t be higher. For the first time since 2016-17, India face the prospect of losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India could have come to Sydney with a 1-1 scoreline, but one bad session in Melbourne cost them the fourth Test to make it 2-1 in favour of Australia.
This Test, however, is more than just a scoreline. It holds immense significance for the future trajectory of Indian cricket, signalling the beginning of the transition that’s been talked about for months now. The churn is set to begin here in Sydney.
Consider these observations from India’s training session: Captain Rohit Sharma did not practice slip catching, even as others did; his brief batting stint was limited to taking throwdowns; head coach Gautam Gambhir didn’t confirm whether Rohit would be in the playing XI despite being specifically asked in the press conference. Even if Rohit plays, which seems unlikely, it could potentially be his last game as India’s Test captain.
His likely successor, Jasprit Bumrah, was noticeably proactive at the nets and spent considerable time speaking to Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar. India’s only win on this tour so far in Perth came under Bumrah’s leadership, solidifying his position as natural heir to the red-ball captaincy.
Another noteworthy observation from the nets was Dhruv Jurel’s extended batting session, closely monitored by the head coach. While there is no indication that Rishabh Pant will be sidelined — he remains integral to the setup — the message for him to be responsible is evident. Though Pant, who batted as well as kept wickets in the nets, is going to be Bumrah’s deputy in the match, keeping Jurel ready, even if as a backup, is significant.
The pre-match press conference further added to the intrigue. Traditionally, the captain addresses the media on the eve of the final Test of the s
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