Rohit Sharma has set the record straight following his unceremonious omission from India’s Test side for the SCG Test, declaring he chose to stand down for the series decider against Australia.
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Following days of speculation about his future in the Test team, the 37-year-old was not named India’s starting XI for the fifth Test in Sydney, with Jasprit Bumrah leading the national side in his absence.
Sharma, who has averaged 22.77 in Tests since February last year, notched scores of 6, 3, 10, 9 and 3 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with India failing to win a match under his captaincy.
However, the right-hander hit back at claims he was sacked as Indian skipper during the lunch break on day 3, claiming he stood down for the New Year’s Test.
During an interview with Star Sports, Sharma revealed that coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar supported his decision to step aside.
“I had a chat with the coach and the selector which was very simple. I am not making runs at the moment,” Sharma said.
“I am not in form and it’s an important game. We need an in-form player. Our batting order isn’t in form at the moment. So out of form players can’t carry the team at the moment. So this was the simple thing in my mind. It was my understanding that I should tell the coach and the selector and they backed my call.’’
Although his Test career in jeopardy, Sharma denied that he was retiring from the game’s longest format.
“I am not going anywhere,” Sharma said.
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“This is not a decision of retirement. I am not moving away from this game. But I took a decision to step away from this game because I was not able to score runs with the bat. There is no guarantee that I will score runs two months or five months from now.
“I have seen a lot of cricket, every minute, every second and everyday life changes. I believe that things will change but at the same time, I have to be realistic as well. People sitting in the commentary box, or writing with a laptop in their hands, will not decide how my life goes.’’
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He continued: “I am not thinking too far ahead right now, what does the team need? That is what I was thinking. Nothing else.”
Indian No. 3 Shubman Gill, who replaced Sharma in the starting XI for the Sydney Test, scored 20 in the first innings before falling victim to veteran spinner Nathan Lyon.
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