NEW DELHI: As reported by TimesofIndia.com, Team India are set to approach the final Test in Sydney without Rohit Sharma at the helm following a challenging run of form.
His prolonged struggles with the bat, compounded by back-to-back defeats against New Zealand and Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), appears to have led to this omission.
Despite experimenting with various batting positions, Rohit has been unable to revive his faltering Test career. The numbers tell a sobering story. In 2024, his performance fell well short of the high standards he once set. Averaging only 24.76 across 26 innings, his contributions include just two centuries and two half-centuries.
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In India’s last five Test defeats, Rohit's performance has nosedived, with his average plummeting to a mere 11.20 across 10 innings.
His recent outings hint at a troubling pattern of inconsistency, yielding scores of 2 and 52, 0 and 8, along with a series of single-digit dismissals during the ongoing Australian tour.
With India set to take the field at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Friday without Rohit Sharma, here's a glimpse at how Team India could shape up against Australia:
Openers: Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul
Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal have been the bright spots for India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While Jaiswal's consistency at the top has been crucial, Rahul had to adjust to the No. 3 spot after Rohit Sharma opted to open at MCG, a position where he struggled to make a significant impact.
With Rohit’s omission for the SCG Test, Rahul is set to reclaim his preferred opening slot, offering him a fresh opportunity to make a stronger impression.
Middle-order: Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant
After being dropped for the fourth Test, Shubman Gill will likely return to the playing XI following an intense training session on the eve of the SCG Test.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli, despite his underwhelming form as well, is expected to retain his spot in the lineup. The same holds true for Rishabh Pant, whose shot-selection during the series has drawn significant criticism but who continues to be backed for his match-winning potential.
All-rounders: Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar
Team India are expected to stick with the trio of Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar for the SCG Test. After R Ashwin's retirement, the spin-bowling all-rounder department has felt his absence, but Sundar's recent form has provided some relief.
Alongside Sundar, Jadeja's consistent bowling performances have ensured his place in the XI, despite his struggles with the bat. Nitish Reddy also seems certain to feature again, rounding out India's balanced all-round combination.
Bowlers: Harshit Rana / Prasidh Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj
Jasprit Bumrah, in the absence of Rohit, will captain the team. It rekindles the memories of his remarkable captaincy in the Perth Test, where his leadership and fiery bowling secured India an early 1-0 lead in the series.
Mohammed Siraj, having taken 16 wickets, is already third on the list of top wicket-takers in BGT. However, whether India choose to go with Harshit Rana or Prasidh Krishna in the Team India XI is anyone's guess.
India's likely XI vs Australia for SCG Test
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana / Prasidh Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
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