When regular captain Rohit Sharma didn’t come for the toss, it came as a surprise to many, as we saw Jasprit Bumrah stepping in as the leader for India in the New Year’s Test against Australia in Sydney. It was expected that Bumrah would lead the game, as Sharma decided to opt out of this crucial Test match. Since this game is extremely important for India, both for retaining the BGT and staying in contention for the WTC final, taking rest came as a shock. So, what could be the possible reason for Rohit Sharma’s exclusion from the Test team for the SCG Test against Australia?
Why Rohit Sharma is not playing in the SCG Test vs Australia
The first and, as mentioned, big news from the Sydney Cricket Ground is that Rohit Sharma is not in India’s playing XI, which has come as a shock to many. After a long time, we have seen an Indian captain opting out of a marquee game. Sharma, who failed to deliver big results in the last few Tests against Australia, saw his captaincy come under scrutiny. Now, he has decided to take a step back and not play, which is possibly the reason behind his absence.
When former India head coach Ravi Shastri asked Bumrah during the toss about Sharma’s absence, Bumrah said, “Our captain has opted to rest, and that’s all we have received.” However, many are wondering if this marks the end of Sharma’s Test career, although nothing has been confirmed. Still, the scenario certainly gives that indication.
Rohit Sharma’s captaincy record
| Matches Captained | 24 |
| Wins | 12 |
| Losses | 9 |
| Draws | 3 |
| Win Percentage | 50% |
