Rohit Sharma opts to ‘rest’ for Sydney Test, Jasprit Bumrah to lead India in BGT finale.

India Test captain Rohit Sharma will be ‘rested’ for the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. In his place, the likely candidate is to walk out for the toss on Friday morning at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

The Indian Express understands that Rohit has informed coach Gautam Gambhir and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar of his decision to opt-out. The duo, it is learnt, have agreed.

That can also mean it could have marked the last day of the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne for India as Rohit might not even be in their scheme of things for the upcoming World Test Championship Cycle, which starts with an England tour next summer. Of course, in the current WTC cycle, India is most unlikely to find itself for the final at The Oval.

Shubman Gill, dropped for the Melbourne Test, would return to the playing 11 in place of Rohit and bat at three. KL Rahul would open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, with Rishabh Pant being reinstated into the side, as well. There’s injury for Prasidh Krishna though as an injury rules out the availability of an injured Akash Deep, and he replaces Deep for the final match of the series, Thursday.

On the eve of the match, Gambhir was seen having long, intense conversations with Bumrah while the fielding drills were going on. Rohit made a brief appearance at the nets and batted with side-arm bowlers — he, in fact, was among the last to walk in for practice. He was also missing during the routine slip practice sessions.

Gambhir was asked earlier in the day if Rohit had taken his place in the playing 11, and he remained noncommittal. “Everything is fine with Rohit. We are going to have a look at the wicket and announce the playing XI tomorrow,” Gambhir added.

Rohit has, of late, had a poor time in Tests, averaging a lowly 6.2 in the last three Test matches he played in Australia and 10.93 in the last nine Tests. His captaincy too has been put under the scanner following the whitewash at the hands of New Zealand and home, and the two defeats to Australia in the ongoing series after India won the opening Test under Bumrah’s leadership.