Gambhir, Rohit ignore each other on match eve

It was around half past one when Gautam Gambhir walked towards the centre strip at the Sydney Cricket Ground with Jasprit Bumrah in tow. A few minutes later, Rohit Sharma also joined the duo in the middle but there was hardly any communication between the head coach and the designated captain.

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Then Gambhir showed up at the pre-match press conference (usually the captain attends it) and chose not to confirm Rohit’s place in the playing XI for the fifth and final Test.

Gambhir was also seen engaged in a conversation with Bumrah while the rest of his teammates were warming up with a round of foot volley. All present at the SCG witnessed a complete communication breakdown between the skipper and the head coach.

There were already enough indications but the developments on Thursday made one thing as clear as daylight. Rohit is no longer in coach Gautam Gambhir’s scheme of things after scoring just one second innings half-century in the eight Tests he has played this season.

It is learnt that an influential cricket administrator who commands a lot of respect in the BCCI has had a word with the head coach to explore if the skipper can be allowed to play the Sydney game and bow out from the Test arena. However, the head coach’s priority is to ensure India win in Sydney and remain in the hunt for a place in the WTC final.

Such is the state of affairs that Rohit was more comfortable speaking to his deputy Bumrah and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar than Gambhir.

After a game of foot volley in which Rohit and Rishabh Pant were on one side and Virat Kohli on the other, suddenly the penny dropped with a different looking slip cordon.

While Pant was behind the stumps for the slip catching session, the formation behind the batter had Kohli at first slip, KL Rahul at second, Nitish Kumar Reddy at third with Yashasvi Jaiswal manning the gully. There were no signs of Rohit yet as one headed to the net practice area outside the main stadium.

Ravindra Jadeja was the first one in the nets to receive throwdowns but then Kohli entered followed by Jaiswal and Rahul. When Shubman Gill joined the fourth net, the batting sequence of the top-order became somewhat clear. All this while, Rohit and Bumrah were in the dressing room.

After nearly 35 minutes, Rohit quietly walked into the net arena and without his kit. While Gambhir stood at the farthest net, talking to Bumrah, Rohit was at the other end conversing with video analyst Hari Prasad.

After the top-order had almost finished their session, Rohit entered the nets. During his 30-odd minutes of practice, he looked a shadow of his old self.

Once Rohit was done with his training, he along with Bumrah and Agarkar left the nets but Gambhir stayed back. It is learnt that during this meeting after training it was decided that Rohit would be “rested”.

Webster comes in for Marsh, Starc fit for fifth Test

SYDNEY: All-rounder Beau Webster will make his Test debut for Australia in place of the dropped Mitchell Marsh in the fifth Test against India on Friday, captain Pat Cummins said on Thursday. Marsh, Australia’s T20I captain, scored only 73 runs over the first four Tests and bowled sparingly as Australia bounced back from a thrashing in the Perth opener. “Beau’s been in the squad for a few Tests now. Mitchy hasn’t quite got the runs or the wickets he’d have liked so we thought it was time for a freshen up,” Cummins said.

Webster, 31, has not represented his country in any format but has scored 5,297 runs and taken 148 wickets in 93 First-Class matches, mainly for his state side Tasmania. “He’s just been one of those star performers for Tasmania with bat or ball or in the field,” said Cummins. “He always seems to have a big impact. Quite aggressive. Can change the game, like we’ve seen Mitch Marsh or Travis Head or Alex Carey do in that middle order.”

Mitchell Starc was included despite struggling with a back niggle during the fourth Test. “He went off for a scan yesterday and got the all clear to play in this match. It’s a big game in the context of series and World Test Championship, it’s a home game. He was never going to miss this one unless he absolutely had to,” Cummins said.