Gautam Gambhir rejected request to retain Rohit Sharma in Indian playing XI for 5th BGT 2024-25 Test: Reports

As per a report, Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir declined the requests to retain Team India skipper Rohit Sharma in the playing 11 for the upcoming Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Gambhir is said to have done so as the game still holds significance in the team's qualification for the World Test Championship (WTC).

Team India go into the next Test with little to no chance of making it to the final of the WTC. They had to win the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne but ended up on the wrong side of the results, losing the game by 184 runs. According to a report from PTI, Gambhir is said to have declined interest from an 'influential cricket administrator' who wanted the head coach to retain the captain in the playing 11 for the Sydney Test.

The said 'influential cricket administrator' commands a lot of respect in the BCCI and asked Gambhir to explore possibilities of accommodating Rohit Sharma in the playing 11, but Gambhir seems to have declined the requests, citing that the Sydney Game still holds importance in Team India's quest of making it to the World Test Championship final. Furthermore, the PTI report stated that Rohit was more comfortable when in discussions with his deputy, Jasprit Bumrah and selector Ajit Agarkar.

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Rohit Sharma's run of form in the BGT 2024-25 so far

Rohit Sharma missed the opening Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy and took over captaincy duties from Jasprit Bumrah in the second Test in Adelaide. He lost the second game of the series by 10 wickets, followed by a draw at the Gabba and an 184-run hammering at the MCG.

Rohit's poor run of form has also not aided him. In the last three Tests, the 37-year-old has only managed to score 31 runs when batting at number six in two matches and opening in the last Test. Should Rohit be excluded from the playing 11 in the last match of the series, Jasprit Bumrah will take over the duties as the side's skipper.