India skipper Rohit Sharma skipped the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney and Jasprit Bumrah was named as the stand-in captain.
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Image: AFP
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At the toss, Bumrah stated that Rohit "opted to rest" after a series of poor performances.
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Image: AFP
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However, Rohit's absence from the final Test has raised many questions on his future in the longest format.
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Image: AFP
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Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has predicted that Rohit Sharma might just end his Test career after the 5th Test.
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"It still is a brave call for a captain to own up and say, 'I'm prepared to take the bench in this game," said Shastri.
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"If there was a home season coming up he might've thought of carrying on, but I think he might just pull the plug at the end of this Test," he added.
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Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar also gave a similar response, stating that the 4th Test can be Rohit's last game.
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"I think it probably means that (if) India don't qualify for the WTC final, the Melbourne Test will be Rohit Sharma's last game," said Gavaskar.
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"We have probably seen Rohit Sharma for the last time in Test cricket," he added.
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"So typical of Rohit Sharma. Doing the right thing, doing what's right for the team. But could not understand the ‘cloak & dagger' around the issue," said Sanjay Manjrekar.