Fans go wild on Twitter as Rohit Sharma’s name goes missing in India’s 16-man squad for SCG Test

Indian captain Rohit Sharma proved the speculations to be true as he was not named in the playing XI for the fifth Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday. After just 31 runs in five innings, Rohit decided to opt out of the match. 

Jasprit Bumrah was the stand-in captain and won the toss and elected to bat first against Pat Cummins and the Aussies. Rohit looked way past his prime in the innings that he played as he was getting dismissed to deliveries that he would have put away had he been on top of his game. 

In the pre-match warm-up session, Rohit was seen playing football with Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and other players. After the TV cameras panned on Rohit Sharma, he had been sitting with assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate. 

The list of 16 players including the substitutes and reserves had Rohit's name missing from it. Injured pacer Akash Deep's name had also been missing. Fans on X had mixed reactions to Rohit Sharma not being named in the 16-man squad. 

While some hailed Gautam Gambhir for this act, others were disappointed to see it, contemplating a retirement announcement soon from the Indian captain. 

Here’s how fans reacted as Rohit Sharma’s name goes missing

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Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar hailed Rohit Sharma for doing the right thing for the team. Here's what he said:

"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. Wasn't even talked about at the toss."

Head coach Gautam Gambhir had already given an indication that Rohit would be sitting out as the Indian captain did not attend the press conference. Rohit had a year to forget in 2024 as he scored just 619 runs in 24 innings at an average of 24.76.

In conclusion, Indian captain Rohit Sharma's absence from the playing XI for the fifth Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground has sparked speculation and mixed reactions from fans. With just 31 runs in five innings, Rohit opted out of the match, leading to Jasprit Bumrah taking over as stand-in captain. The omission of Rohit's name from the 16-man squad list has fueled rumors of a potential retirement announcement. While some fans praised Gautam Gambhir for the decision, others expressed disappointment. Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar commended Rohit for prioritizing the team's interests. Head coach Gautam Gambhir had hinted at Rohit's absence, and the Indian captain's poor form in 2024 further contributed to the decision.

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