India Coach Gautam Gambhir Noncommittal on Rohit Sharma’s Inclusion for Fifth Test Against Australia
India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has declined to confirm whether captain Rohit Sharma will play in the crucial fifth test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, leaving the decision to be revealed at the toss on Friday.
Rohit, who has struggled for runs throughout the series, has faced scrutiny as India trails 2-1 following a loss in Melbourne earlier this week. When asked why Gambhir, rather than Rohit, was addressing the pre-match press conference, Gambhir dismissed concerns, stating, “Everything is fine with Rohit, and I don’t think it’s anything traditional. The head coach is here, that should be fine.”
Uncertainty Over Playing XI
Gambhir was tight-lipped about the team composition, saying the final decision would depend on the pitch assessment.
“We’re going to have a look at the wicket and probably announce the playing XI tomorrow,” Gambhir said, refusing to confirm Rohit’s inclusion.
The coach did, however, confirm that pacer Akash Deep would miss the match due to a back issue. Reports suggesting Gambhir had sharply reprimanded the team after the Melbourne loss were also dismissed.
“Those are just reports, not the truth. There were some honest words, that’s all. Honesty is extremely important if you want to go on to do great things,” he said.
Focus on Winning the Test
Gambhir emphasized that discussions in the dressing room centered solely on strategies to win the fifth test, avoiding long-term planning about leadership roles involving Rohit or former captain Virat Kohli.
“The only conversation was how we can win the next test match,” he said. “No other conversation has taken place, because we know how important this test is.”
Confidence in India’s Chances
Despite the uncertainty, Gambhir expressed strong confidence in India’s ability to secure a victory. A win would allow India to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and keep their hopes alive for a spot in the World Test Championship final against South Africa.
“Extremely, extremely confident,” Gambhir said. “We’ve got the skill set, we’ve got the individuals, and we’ve got everything in that dressing room to win this match and achieve unbelievable things in the future.”
The fifth test is a must-win encounter for India, with high stakes for both the series and the team’s aspirations on the global stage. Fans eagerly await the toss to see if Rohit Sharma will be part of the action.
