Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Desperate times
The question was simple. Will Rohit Sharma play in the fifth and final Test against Australia?
Had Rohit’s position been secure, the answer should have been “Yes.” Yet, India head coach Gautam Gambhir’s response at a pre-match press conference was: “We will take a call on the playing XI after looking at the pitch.”
Extremely, extremely confident (about winning final Test). We’ve got the skill set, we’ve got the individuals. We’ve got everything in that dressing room that can win a Test match here. If someone had said 40-45 days ago that we would be in this situation, that we can come to Sydney and draw this series, it’s a good position to be in.
Gautam Gambhir, India coach
1 India have won only one out of 13 Tests at the SCG
You go into every Test trying to win so no different this week. Really happy with the last three Tests, how the boys have played. We’ve shown for most that we’ve been the frontrunner, that’s the aim again this week, keep it up.
Pat Cummins, Australia captain
The ambiguous response, equal parts intriguing and dramatic, naturally sparked speculation that the out-of-form skipper was no longer sure of his place in the playing XI. Within a few hours, it swirled into near confirmation that the 37-year-old Rohit is set to become the first serving Indian captain who would be dropped for poor form. And it all began with one line.
Gambhir’s reply summed up the tour for Rohit, who missed the first Test due to the birth of his second child.
Ever since he arrived Down Under, Rohit the batter has been battered by extra bounce and seam movement and Rohit the skipper has been left bruised by the scathing criticism of his leadership. And as the tour draws to a close, his career as a Test cricketer seems headed for a dispiriting climax.
If Rohit is dropped, he would have no one to blame except the abysmal return of 31 runs from five innings.
If the expected happens, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who has been the team’s top performer with an astonishing 30 wickets in four outings at a sub-20 average, will take over the leadership role. It was under Bumrah’s captaincy that India won their only Test on the tour so far — the opener in Perth.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Anil Kumble walked into Test retirements mid-series as their bodies could no longer take the rigours of the longest format. However, in Rohit’s case, he will be dropped on the basis of form after Gambhir made it clear that performance is the only thing that would keep a player in the dressing room helmed by him.
If he doesn’t come out for toss on Friday, it would be safe to conclude that Rohit played his last knock at the MCG earlier this week where he looked completely out of place on a good track.
While Gambhir didn’t spell out the playing XI, there were enough indications that India might bring back Shubman Gill at No. 3.
There are reports that Rishabh Pant’s shot selection has invited the wrath of Gambhir, who is now planning a rap on the knuckles by dropping him in favour of Dhruv Jurel.
If Pant is indeed axed from the game, it would be a redux of the time when legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev was taught a lesson for his poor shot selection during a 1984 tour of England with a similar omission. During practice on Thursday, Jurel got the same net time as his senior.
India will also have to make one change owing to Akash Deep’s stiff back that has forced him out. The coach’s favourite Harshit Rana could be in but with his questionable consistency and drop in speed in the second and third spells, Prasidh Krishna can’t be ruled out either.
