New Delhi:
Jasprit Bumrah has called the move by Rohit to “opt to rest” as one of the positives in the Indian Team. Bumrah came out for the toss at the last and final Test match in Sydney in place of Rohit, who has had a torrid time with the bat averaging in single digits through the ongoing series.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma will not play in the New Year’s Test, as both teams confirm their sides.
India has won the toss and will bat first. #AUSvIND
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At the Sydney Cricket Ground, India made the extraordinary move of replacing their captain even with the series not quite lost as yet. As a result Rohit being left out, Shubman Gill who missed out in Melbourne got back in the playing eleven. The indications that Rohit was going to miss out was an open secret, with head coach Gautam Gambhir refusing to confirm the captain’s availability on the eve of the match.
Bumrah, at the toss, was not asked about the reason for the change by Ravi Shastri but mentioned that the spirits were “positive” in the dressing room.
“Obviously, our captain [Rohit Sharma] has shown his leadership as well. He’s opted to rest in this game.
“So that shows that there’s a lot of unity in our team. There’s no selfishness. Whatever is in the team’s best interest, we’re looking to do that,” he said.
India go into the match trailing 2-1 but with a chance to square the series and thereby retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
