Gill's fist bump, Rohit's cameo: Sydney training adds to selection intrigue

Sydney,UPDATED: Jan 2, 2025 12:29 IST

India enter the decisive New Year's Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Sydney Cricket Ground under a cloud of speculation and controversy. With the series delicately poised at 2-1 in Australia’s favour, all eyes are on the Indian team’s composition and the brewing tension in the dressing room.

On Thursday, January 2, India head coach Gautam Gambhir refused to confirm whether under-fire captain Rohit Sharma would feature in the playing XI for the Sydney Test. Rohit, who has been woefully out of form, has amassed just 31 runs in the series, averaging 6.20—the lowest by a touring captain in Australia with at least five innings. His prolonged slump in the 2024-25 season, managing a mere 164 runs in 15 innings at 10.93, has raised questions about his role as both batter and skipper.

Addressing the press on the eve of the Test, Gambhir deflected questions about Rohit’s inclusion, stating that the final XI would be decided after assessing the pitch. “The only thing that keeps you in the dressing room is performance,” he reiterated, adding further intrigue to the captain’s fate.

During training, Rohit’s absence from the slip cordon added fuel to the speculation. Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nitish Kumar Reddy were seen practising slip catching while Rishabh Pant was out with the wicketkeeping gloves, doing his drills on Thursday morning.

Rohit spent a large part of the session in discussion with Gambhir, vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar.

Sydney Test: India predicted XI

Rohit eventually padded up and walked out to bat in the nets. However, the skipper had a brief session, taking throwdowns. Rohit did not spend as much time as his teammates at the nets.

If Rohit is dropped, Bumrah is expected to lead the side. Shubman Gill, who missed the fourth Test to accommodate Washington Sundar, is likely to return, potentially at No. 3, with Rahul partnering Jaiswal at the top.

A MESSAGE SENT TO SHUBMAN GILL?

An intriguing moment unfolded during Thursday's training session as Shubman Gill interacted with coach Gambhir and vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah. Gambhir and Gill were seen fist-bumping, in a video shared by journalist Sahil Malhortra, after which the head coach patted the young batter on the back. Bumrah also approached Gill, offering a similar gesture, hinting that a message was being conveyed to the Gujarat Titans captain.

Gill batted in the nets alongside Kohli and Rahul, looking focussed on the job at hand.

Adding to the pre-match drama, reports of dressing room conversations being leaked have sparked a major controversy. Following India’s 184-run loss in the Boxing Day Test, a media report detailed head coach Gambhir’s purported frustration with players prioritising their "natural game" over adapting to match situations. The leak has drawn criticism from former cricketers, including Irfan Pathan, who condemned the breach of confidentiality, saying, “What happens in the dressing room should stay in the dressing room.”

Gambhir addressed the controversy during the press conference, categorically denying any unrest within the team. “Those are just reports. That’s not the truth. I don’t think I need to answer any reports. There were some honest words, that is what I can say,” he stated.

Australia, meanwhile, remain buoyant after dominant performances in Melbourne and Adelaide. The Australian dressing room has been a happy camp. Captain Pat Cummins announced the XI for the Sydney Test on Thursday, confirming that all-rounder Mitchell Marsh had been dropped due to poor form. Cummins did not sugarcoat the decision, opting not to frame it in a different light. Australia have added uncapped all-rounder Beau Webster as Marsh's replacement for the series finale.

Cummins also confirmed that Mitchell Starc, who was battling a back injury in Melbourne, was fit and would play the Sydney Test.