"Honesty to the core" - Fans divided over Rohit Sharma's candid interview on Day 2 of BGT 2024-25 5th Test 

Team India skipper Rohit Sharma launched a massive response following his absence from the playing XI for the fifth Border-Gavaskar series Test in Sydney. Jasprit Bumrah was assigned to lead the side after Rohit Sharma opted out of the series finale.

The right-handed batter had a tour to forget after missing the series finale. Slotting in the middle-order initially, he struggled for runs and proceeded to return to the top for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. However, with intense criticism surrounding Rohit's batting and captaincy, Team India needed a massive shake-up in a bid to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy

During an interview with the broadcasters midway through the Lunch Break on Day 2, Rohit Sharma confirmed that he stood down of his own volition and has no plans to retire.

'I stood down, that's what I will say. There are fifty words that'll be thrown around. The chat that I had with the coach and the selectors was simple - runs weren't coming off my bat, I wasn't in form and it was a must-win match. I felt I had to inform the coach and the selectors and this was my decision," Rohit Sharma told Star Sports

Rohit earned praise for clearing the air himself and being at his honest best. However, at the same time, he also copped flak from a section of fans.

"He is not sulking but throwing down the gauntlet to selectors and team management," one tweet read

"Just an interval interview and Gautam Gambhir seems to be on the back foot." one user wrote

"You can sense that there was some ego in that interview," another tweet read

"This decision is not a retirement decision, nor am I stepping aside from the game" - Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma has been battling poor form since the beginning of the home season in September. The skipper was not among the runs in the Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand and came into the Border-Gavaskar series with minimal game time in such conditions.

"This decision is not a retirement decision, nor am I stepping aside from the game. I am sitting out this game since my bat isn't clicking. It doesn't mean it won't click five months or two months down the line. But at the same time I have to be realistic. Whatever someone writes sitting behind a laptop or pen doesn't matter. They don't get to decide when I retire, when I don't play," Rohit added

India's next red-ball match could be the World Test Championship (WTC) Final if they beat the odds and qualify. They will begin their next WTC with a five-match Test series against England, away from home in the June-July window in 2025.