Rishabh Pant has given some insight into Rohit Sharma not featuring in the India vs Australia 5th Test. The wicketkeeper batter, who enjoys a great relationship with the Indian captain, called the opener ‘a leader’ after he dropped himself in Sydney and handed the captain’s hat to Jasprit Bumrah, who took the India cricket team to victory in Perth.
See Rohit Sharma as a ‘leader’: Pant
The decision didn’t work in Team India‘s favour as they were bundled for just 185. But given how the head coach refused to comment on Rohit Sharma’s inclusion on the eve of the Sydney Test and how the slip cordon was changed a day before the game, it was pretty much confirmed that the Indian captain won’t feature in the final of the Australia tour.
Asked about the call to drop the captain, Pant said, “It was an emotional decision. We see him as a leader.”
Rishabh Pant ‘not involved’ in making Jasprit Bumrah the captain
The wicketkeeper, who top-scored for Team India with a brave 40, was hit multiple times during his stay in the middle, refused to comment on why Rohit Sharma didn’t play. At the end of 2022, Rishabh Pant was the vice-captain and perhaps had more say in decision-making. But an 18-month gap between international matches due to his accident may have put him out of the decision-making process and the group of leaders inside the team.
“There are some decisions you are not involved in. I cannot explain more than that,” Pant told reporters after the first day’s play in Sydney.
India’s Playing XI for the Sydney Test
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah (c), Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
OUT: Rohit Sharma and Akash Deep
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