Gautam Gambhir on Rohit Sharma: Team India has one last chance to save the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT 2024) in the Sydney Test against Australia. India’s performance in the last four Tests, combined with reports of discussions between coach Gautam Gambhir and the players in the dressing room, has sparked rumours of tension within the team.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir clarified on Thursday that such “debates” in the dressing room should not be made public. He mentioned having “honest” conversations with players, emphasizing that only performance can secure their place in the team.
Gambhir denied reports of problems and called them false rumours. At a pre-match press conference ahead of the fifth and final Test against Australia, he stated, “The discussions between the coach and the players should remain within the dressing room. Those are just reports, not the truth.”
Will Rohit Sharma Play in the Sydney Test?
When asked about Rohit Sharma’s inclusion in the Sydney Test during the press conference, Gautam Gambhir said the decision on the playing XI would be made after inspecting the pitch at the toss. He clarified that discussions with senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma revolved only around strategies to win the match. Gambhir emphasized that every player understands their areas for improvement and that their focus has been on winning the Test match.
Question – will Rohit Sharma play tomorrow?
Gautam Gambhir – we will take the Playing XI call at the toss after looking at the pitch tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/7QoexVkRwZ
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 2, 2025
Why Was Rohit Absent From the Press Conference?
Addressing Rohit’s absence, Gambhir reassured that everything is fine with the Indian captain. “It’s not traditional. The head coach is here, and that’s good enough,” he explained.
Gautam Gambhir in the Press Conference. pic.twitter.com/FQyHYn3fg8
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 2, 2025
Rohit’s Struggles in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
The Indian captain had a disappointing run in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In five innings, he has scored only 31 runs at an average of 6.20, the lowest by any visiting captain on Australian soil. His scores of 3, 6, 10, 3, and 9 highlight his struggles in this series.
The Boxing Day Test added to his woes as Rohit was dismissed for just 9 runs off 40 balls during India’s chase of 340. Since September, Rohit has managed only 164 runs in Test cricket with an average of just over 10, marking one of the leanest phases of his career.
Sunil Gavaskar (on sports tak) – “If Rohit sharma taking leave from 1st test in BGT, then BCCI should announce a captain for the whole series. Rohit can join whenever he wants but as a player” pic.twitter.com/1vu1SlH44z
— Fearless🦁 (@ViratTheLegend) November 4, 2024
Gavaskar’s Prediction About Rohit’s Future
Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar commented on Rohit Sharma’s struggles and predicted his possible retirement from Test cricket. Speaking to Sports Tak, Gavaskar said, “Considering his current form and the way he’s losing his wickets, I think Rohit may retire from Test cricket after the Sydney Test. The team management should now begin preparations for the WTC 2027.”