“Aap bilkul bhi iss situation se bhagiye mat” - Irfan Pathan comments on India’s possible playing 11 for BGT 2024-25 5th Test

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has shared his views on skipper Rohit Sharma's batting form. There are reports doing the rounds about Rohit being dropped for the final Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 in Sydney, scheduled to commence on January 3.

Pathan wants Rohit to face the challenge and fight in this situation. He has expressed that he wishes for the right-hander to score runs and get out of the rough phase. He added that he wishes to see Rohit score and help India win the Sydney Test.

"Meri yeh guzarish rahegi Rohit Sharma see," Irfan said on Star Sports via X. "Aap bilkul bhi yeh situation se bhagiye mat. Zaroor aapka balla nahi chal raha. Hum bhi keh rahe hai. Sab maan rahe hai aap bhi maan rahe hai. Lekin aap ladai kariye. Apne bohot run banaye. (My request to Rohit Sharma is to not run away from this situation. He is not scoring. We are telling this. Everyone is accepting it and he is also accepting it. But I want him to fight. He has scored many runs)."

"Mai dekhna chahunga Rohit Sharma iss situation mai aake ladai kare aur uss daur se bahar nikal neki koshish kare aur team ko jeet dilaye," he added. "Yeh meri personal khwaish rahegi. Zarooor jo baat maine kahi ki unka form nahi hai, woh baat bhi sahi hai. Lekin ye bhi mai chahta hu ki Rohit Sharma ladai kare, zabardast tarike se aaye aur run banaye aur team ko jitaye. ( But I would want to see Rohit Sharma coming out in this situation, fight, and try to get out this phase and help the team win. It is my personal wish. Yes, I have spoken that he is not in form and it is right. However I want Rohit to fight, score runs, and help the team win)."

Rohit Sharma missed the first Test in Perth but returned for the next Test in Adelaide. He has failed to get going with the bat for India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The skipper has managed to score just 31 runs in five innings so far with a poor average of 6.20.

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Irfan Pathan speaks on possible changes to India's playing XI for Sydney Test

Speculations are rife about Rohit Sharma being dropped for the final Test in Sydney. Gautam Gambhir's press conference has shed light on a certain chaos within the Indian team at the moment.

Speaking about the changes to India's playing XI for the final Test of the series, Irfan Pathan reckons that the changes should have been made in the Melbourne Test. He believes that making too many changes in the final game will not be ideal.

"Playing XI mai na iss match se pehle change hone chahiye the jo Melbourne ka tha. Ab dikkat yeh hai ki last match hai. Last match mai aap agar bohot zyada badlav karenge toh dikkat hogi. Ek hi toh badlav kar sakte hai. Shubman Gill andar aye aur Rohit Sharma jo form mai nahi hai woh bahar jaye (The changes in the playing XI should have been made in the Melbourne Test. Now the issue is that it is the last match. Making too many changes in the last match will cause problems. There is only one possible change. Shubman Gill comes in and Rohit Sharma, who is not in form, goes out)," he said.

It will be interesting to see whether India makes a bold call by leaving the skipper Rohit Sharma out for the final Test in Sydney.