If the great divide in the Indian cricket dressing room was discussed in hushed tones, it became hugely apparent on the first day of the ongoing Sydney Test. Minutes before the toss, Rohit Sharma, India’s designated captain, avoided open discussions with the head coach, Gautam Gambhir.
Before the frosty silence, a visibly disturbed Rohit and Gambhir were seen having an intense discussion, with Jasprit Bumrah by their side. According to media reports, Rohit seemed to clarify certain things to the head coach.
What followed was only expected. Bumrah and not Rohit led the side in Sydney. Rohit’s underwhelming net session on the eve of the Test made it obvious that he would sit out. His poor form was evident during practice a day prior where he looked a shadow of his old self. His reflexes were late and he was bowled after missing the line of fielding coach T Dilip’s throwdown.
But that Rohit didn’t even feature on the team sheet added more intrigue to the build-up to the first ball.
India only added more grist to rumour mills by being secretive about Rohit not featuring in the eleven. Gambhir was tight-lipped about Rohit’s place for this Test, even though the latter was the designated captain. Bumrah said Rohit had been “rested” for the series finale, a safe phrase but loaded nonetheless.
Having played his 67th Test in Melbourne, Rohit is expected to retire from the longest format. He recorded pin-code-like scores in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, outraging the passionate followers of Indian cricket, who believed he wasn’t justifying his place in the team as a player.
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