Struggling for runs in the longest format of the game lately, India skipper Rohit Sharma decided to opt out of the fifth and final Test against Australia, which began on Friday (January 3) at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

However, former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar was surprised that there was so little spoken about Rohit's absence at the toss.

Former India coach Ravi Shastri was the presenter at the toss and he avoided seeking details from stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah regarding Rohit’s absence.

“Our captain has shown leadership by opting to rest in this game. That shows there's a lot of unity in this team. There's no selfishness. Whatever is in the team’s best interest we are looking to do that,” Bumrah said at the toss.

Speaking on Star Sports, Manjrekar expressed his amazement that there was so little being spoken about Rohit’s absence.

"Very mysterious From Ravi (Shastri). I was amazed. I don't understand this cloak and dagger thing in Indian cricket. This is the issue with Indian cricket culture. We are just secretive in our operation. Rohit Sharma is someone who has played 62 Test matches," Manjrekar said.

"We have to share with the fans who have made cricket the great game that is India. When they see Bumrah walking out, the first thought in their minds is what happened to Rohit Sharma? Has he opted out? Has he been dropped? I was amazed that at the toss he wasn't asked. I have done the toss a few times. That would have been the first question after asking him what are you doing?"

Manjrekar also wondered what exactly 'opting to rest' means for a guy who has played one Test less than others.

"I believe the official word is that he has opted to rest. Will fans accept that? This is the guy who didn't play in the first Test, didn't play domestic cricket before the New Zealand series. If anyone needs rest is the captain who is playing this Test," Manjrekar remarked.

"That is the issue that I have with Indian cricket culture. We have some brilliant cricketers and the fans follow them passionately. We just don't give them facts as much as they deserve by this very mysterious and secretive operation around some important matters."

"Rohit is not an all-time great to keep his exclusion mysterious. I can understand if it's Virat Kohli. But Rohit has played 60-odd Tests with one overseas century and an average of just 40. I don't get why it should be so mysterious," he added.

Manjrekar also tweeted the same as he wrote, “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.”

Talking about Rohit Sharma, he was under scrutiny for his poor batting form in the ongoing tour Down Under. The right-hander managed just 31 runs across five innings, scoring 3, 6, 10, 3, and 9 at an abysmal average of 6.20 -- the lowest by a touring captain on Australian soil.

Rohit missed the series opener in Perth due to paternity leave. In his absence, Bumrah led the Indian team to 295-run victory. However, Australia bounced back and defeated the visitors by 10 wickets and 184 runs in Adelaide and Melbourne respectively to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

India are now facing a must-win situation in Sydney to level the series and retain the coveted Border-Gavaskar trophy.