IND vs AUS: Rohit Sharma Dropped from SCG Test After String of Poor Performances

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Rohit Sharma has been left out of India’s playing XI for the Sydney Test against Australia, which starts tomorrow (Friday). The decision was expected, as the Indian captain has been struggling with his batting form in recent matches. His constant shifts in the batting order also caused disruptions to the team’s balance.

Rohit had missed the first Test of the series to be with his family for the birth of his second child. He returned to lead the side in the Adelaide Test, but his performances since then have been disappointing.

Struggles with Batting Order and Poor Form

In the Adelaide and Brisbane Tests, Rohit chose to bat in the middle order. However, in the Melbourne Test, he moved back to the top of the order, which led to Shubman Gill being dropped. This decision backfired as Rohit’s poor run with the bat continued.

Rohit’s numbers in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) paint a grim picture. He has managed only 31 runs in five innings at an average of 6.20. His overall performance in 2024 has also been below par. In 14 matches last year, he scored 619 runs at an average of 24.76, including two centuries and two fifties.

Since his last Test century against England in Dharamsala in March 2024, Rohit has struggled to score runs. He has made only 154 runs in his last 15 innings, averaging just 10.26. His highest score during this period was 52 against New Zealand in Bengaluru.

Rohit Sharma also skipped the pre-match press conference ahead of the Sydney Test. Coach Gautam Gambhir’s comments on the playing XI further hinted at Rohit’s exclusion.

During his final session with the team, Rohit seemed detached and stayed away from team discussions. Instead, Jasprit Bumrah was seen taking the lead, interacting with Gambhir and the players.

At 37, Rohit was expected to retire from Test cricket after the Sydney game. While there has been no official announcement, it seems clear that he has played his last Test for India.

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