"If it was decided, why wasn't it informed earlier?" - Aakash Chopra on Rohit Sharma opting out of BGT 2024-25 5th Test

Aakash Chopra has questioned why Rohit Sharma's decision to opt out of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 fifth Test wasn't made public earlier. He pointed out that the delayed information led to contrasting speculations about the Indian captain's place in the side.

India were bowled out for 185 in their first innings after Jasprit Bumrah opted to bat first in Sydney on Friday, January 3. The hosts ended Day 1 at 9/1 in their first innings, with Bumrah dismissing Usman Khawaja off the last ball.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener noted that either Rohit or Gautam Gambhir should have officially announced that the regular captain was sitting out the Sydney Test.

"If it was decided, why wasn't it informed earlier? Why so many sources about the news coming from the dressing room? Someone was saying he had been dropped and others were saying he was opting out. Rohit should have himself come and said that he wasn't playing or Gautam could have said it. Announce it officially," he said (3:00).

Chopra added that an official update would have allowed the fans to celebrate such an exemplary decision.

"That makes it a dignified process and everyone celebrates it because it's unprecedented in Indian cricket that you sit out as a captain because you feel your form is not good for the team. Rohit Sharma has done that. So he has set a huge example and that should have been celebrated, but it will only be celebrated when someone informs," he observed.

Gambhir was asked about Rohit's place in the XI in the pre-match press conference. The India head coach did not confirm either way and stated that the XI would be decided after looking at the pitch before the toss.

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"I feel it was the right decision" - Aakash Chopra on Rohit Sharma resting himself

Rohit Sharma scored 31 runs at a paltry average of 6.20 in five innings in BGT 2024-25. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that Rohit Sharma made the right decision to opt out of the Sydney Test.

"Was the decision not to play right or wrong? I feel it was the right decision because you were not gaining anything. He is looking out of form and it's not about now. It has been continuous, which includes the two series in India and then this series. It's not looking great," he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the Indian captain realized that resting himself would benefit the team.

"For once in his life, he thought about himself and didn't think about the team that much. That was the last Test match when he decided to open. The batting order had to be changed a lot and people were made to sit out. But that also didn't work out and when that happens, you say you would do what is right for the team because Rohit has done that many times," Chopra elaborated.

Aakash Chopra recalled Rohit Sharma making many unselfish calls in his career, including asking MS Dhoni to lead India in his 200th game. He also reminisced about Virat Kohli regaining his form by scoring a century in a T20 Asia Cup clash against Afghanistan after Rohit allowed him to open by dropping himself.