Rohit Sharma to reportedly miss Sydney Test: 3 instances of a captain either getting dropped or dropping themselves mid-series

Indian captain Rohit Sharma is reportedly to be dropped for the fifth Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 in Sydney. If the reports are true and the right-hander does not feature in the fifth Test, he will be the first Indian captain to be dropped mid-way through a series.

However, this is not the first time that such an instance would occur as captains have been sacked and dropped mid-series even in the past. Some have gone to the extent of dropping themselves for different reasons.

The most intriguing yet baffling scene took place in 1988 when England changed four captains throughout a single Test series against the West Indies. While we witness players being dropped mid-way, or even retiring mid-way through a series, a captain being dropped mid-series is not something we would see often.

Should Rohit Sharma be dropped and not play the fifth Test in Sydney, he will join this rare list of captains to have been dropped or who have dropped themselves mid-way through an international series.

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3 instances of a captain either getting dropped or dropping themselves mid-series

#3 MJK Smith - 1966

Michael John Knight Smith, also known as MJK Smith, was England's captain for the first Test during their home series against West Indies in 1966. The game was played in Manchester. Batting first, West Indies scored 484 runs. England, in response, were bowled for 167 with Smith making just 5 runs.

The follow-on was enforced as England were cleaned up for 277, with Smith (6) failing with the bat once again. West Indies went on to win the game by an innings and 40 runs. MJK Smith was dropped after the first Test and did not feature in the entire series thereafter. West Indies went on to win the five-match series 3-1.

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#2 Misbah Ul Haq - 2014/15

Pakistan hosted Australia in the UAE for a three-match ODI series in 2014/15. Misbah Ul Haq led the side in the first two games. In the first ODI, Pakistan suffered a 93-run defeat. Misbah was out for a first-ball duck in this game.

Australia sealed the series with a five-wicket win in the second ODI. Misbah failed to deliver with the bat too, scoring only 15 runs. Owing to his poor form and series defeat, he dropped himself from the third game as Shahid Afridi captained Pakistan in the final ODI.

The change, however, did not benefit Pakistan as Australia won the third game by one run.

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#1 Dinesh Chandimal - 2014 T20 World Cup

Wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Chandimal led Sri Lanka during the 2014 T20 World Cup. Chandimal scored just 12 runs from three games. He decided to drop himself and did not play the last three matches. These games also included the semi-final and the final.

Sri Lanka won three of their four group-stage games. Chandimal handed over the captaincy to Lasith Malinga. The Lankans first beat the West Indies in the semi-finals. They then went on to defeat India in the finals and claim the trophy as well.

Chandimal's decision to sit out in the middle of the tournament, despite being the captain, did not eventually affect their campaign negatively.