The final match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 between India and Australia is now just around the corner. India is trailing 1-2 in the series, and this match is crucial for them to level the series 2-2. If India manages to win or even draw the match, there’s still a chance to take home the trophy. But before this critical game, many things are happening, and one thing that’s standing out is the speculation about Rohit Sharma’s place in the playing XI.

Rohit Sharma’s performance throughout the series has been far from ideal. With only 31 runs across three matches, he has been struggling with the bat. In fact, his average in this series is just 6, which has raised a lot of questions. Rohit has been underperforming, and with the team not doing well either, there have been rumors about an internal rift within the team. A lot of focus has shifted to his leadership as well, and now there’s strong speculation that Rohit could be dropped for the final match.

Here are some hints that suggest he might be dropped:

 

• Gautam Gambhir's Unclear Answer About Rohit’s Place

One of the biggest signs of this possibility came during the press conference with India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir. When asked about Rohit Sharma’s place in the playing XI, Gambhir gave a response that seemed to suggest uncertainty. He said they would assess the pitch and make a decision on the playing XI, but he didn’t directly confirm that Rohit would play. If Rohit was certain to be in the team, Gambhir would likely have said so. Instead, he left it open-ended, fueling the speculation about his future as captain and his place in the team.

Read Also:Gautam Gambhir Addresses Rohit Sharma’s Selection for 5th Test

• Rohit Sharma Not Fielding in Slips

Another sign that Rohit might not play in the final Test came from the nets session today. Typically, Rohit Sharma fields in the slip cordon, but today, he was not seen in his usual position. Instead, players like KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, and Nitish Reddy were seen fielding in the slips. This shift is unusual, and it raises more questions about his involvement in the final Test.

Virat Kohli, Jaiswal, Nitish and KL Rahul at the slips practicing. If Rohit Sharma is not practicing, it might be that he won’t be playing in the next SCG test match. #INDvsAUS #RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/iWUD0e72GU

— Amit (@iiamitverma) January 2, 2025

• Rohit's Casual Body Language During Nets

Furthermore, Rohit’s body language during the nets session seemed casual. While players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kohli, and Rahul were practicing intensely, Rohit appeared more relaxed and was simply observing from the sidelines. He wasn’t as active in the session as he usually is. He even seemed a bit uninterested, as he didn’t participate much in the drills, which could be seen as a sign of frustration or a lack of confidence.

Rohit Sharma in the practice session ahead of the SCG Test. (Sahil Malhotra). pic.twitter.com/R4otjrdFQt

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 2, 2025

Rahul, Jaiswal, Kohli, Jadeja working hard in nets ahead of the SCG Test.

- Pant, Jurel, Gill waiting to practice next in nets. [Abhishek Tripathi] pic.twitter.com/WVJscSfz0R

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 2, 2025

• Less Interaction with Other Players

There was also noticeable contrast in the way Rohit interacted with other team members compared to Bumrah and Gambhir. During discussions, Jasprit Bumrah was more engaged, talking to the players and actively contributing to the conversations, while Rohit remained distant and less involved. This lack of interaction could indicate that his role in the team is uncertain.

Read Also:Virat Kohli Aspires to Be Interim Test Captain for Transition Phase and Desires to Play Till 2027

These observations from today’s nets session, along with the growing speculation, suggest that Rohit Sharma may not be part of the playing XI for the Sydney Test. With so much riding on this final game, it will be interesting to see how India chooses to line up and whether they make any major changes to the team. For now, all eyes will be on the team announcement, and fans will be waiting to see whether Rohit Sharma will retain his spot or if the selectors will make a change for this crucial match.