Rohit Sharma proved the reports correct as he decided to opt out of the ongoing fifth and final Test between India and Australia that began in Sydney on January 3, 2025. In his place, Jasprit Bumrah captained India, while Rohit, on the back of his poor form warmed the bench.

Incidentally, Sharma did not even make it to the 16-member squad for the Sydney Test but was seen sitting in the Indian dressing room. He has been struggling with the bat with 31 runs across 5 innings in the ongoing Test series.

India head coach Ravi Shastri feels that it was a bold call by Rohit Sharma to rest himself for the final Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Shastri, who conducted the toss for the broadcaster, chatted with stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah.

Bumrah told Shastri that Rohit was an unselfish captain who chose to rest himself so that India could have their strongest lineup.

Shastri was questioned about his opinions while commentating on the contest. The former India head coach stated it was a courageous move for the captain to admit and declare, "I am ready to take the bench."

"That's what Jasprit said at the toss before I could even ask him. He said the captain opted to sit out and said the team would be stronger if Shubman Gill played. It can happen when you're out of sorts, you're mentally not there, you don't have the runs under your belt. It still is a brave call for a captain to own up and say, you know, I'm prepared to take the bench in this game," Ravi Shastri said on commentary.

Shastri further spoke on the matter and said that with no home season in sight, Sharma might pull the plug on his Test career and retire from the format.

"If there was a home season coming up, he might have thought of carrying on, but I think he might just pull the plug at the end of this Test. He's not getting younger, he's 38 years of age. It's not that India doesn't have youngsters, there are some very, very good players in the wings, and it's time to build. It's a tough decision, but there's a time for everything," Ravi Shastri said.

On the other hand, Sanjay Manjrekar praised Rohit Sharma’s brave call and stated that the decision was typical of Rohit Sharma, who put himself ahead of the team.

"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,” Sanjay Manjrekar said in his X post.

Bumrah opted to bat first after winning the toss and India posted 185 on the board. Australia ended day one on 9/1.

(India Today inputs)