Star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant hailed Rohit Sharma’s selfless decision to drop himself from the fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney as an emotional and courageous act of leadership. Pant described Rohit’s choice as a testament to his character, calling him “a true leader” for prioritizing the team’s needs over personal goals.
“I think it was definitely an emotional decision because he has been our captain for a long time. We all see him as a leader. But there are moments when such decisions are taken, and it’s a management call. I wasn’t part of that conversation, so I can’t explain more,” Pant said after the first day’s play.
Stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah, speaking at the toss, confirmed that the decision to rest was entirely Rohit’s. “Our captain has shown great leadership by opting to step aside for this game,” Bumrah remarked.
A Difficult Day for Rohit
The 37-year-old white-ball legend appeared out of sorts in his recent outings, struggling to execute his trademark strokes. During the pre-match warm-up session, Rohit was seen playing football with teammates Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Sarfaraz Khan before engaging in a discussion with the team’s video analyst. Shortly before the toss, he left the field, paving the way for Bumrah to lead the team to cheers from a packed crowd.
Cameras later captured Rohit sitting outside the dressing room alongside fielding coach Ryan ten Doeschate, while head coach Gautam Gambhir observed from a distance.
Despite Rohit’s absence, Australia’s relentless pace attack bowled India out for a modest 185 on Day 1.
India’s Batting Struggles Continue
India’s decision to bat first under overcast conditions backfired as the team’s defensive approach faltered against disciplined Australian bowling. Scott Boland led the charge with exceptional figures of 20-8-31-4. While Mitchell Starc (3/49) and Pat Cummins (2/37) supported him effectively.
Rishabh Pant top-scored for India with a gritty 40 off 98 balls. Battling through challenging conditions and absorbing several blows to his body. His resilience stood out as the rest of the lineup crumbled under pressure.
Virat Kohli (17 off 69 balls) continued to struggle with technical flaws, falling yet again to deliveries in the “corridor of uncertainty.” His dismissal marked the seventh time on this tour that the Australian bowlers exploited this weakness.
At stumps, Australia were 9 for 1, with Jasprit Bumrah dismissing Usman Khawaja (2) early. Teenage prodigy Sam Konstas, unbeaten on 7. Made an impression with a boundary off Bumrah’s first delivery and a spirited exchange with the Indian pacer.
Looking Ahead
India’s struggles on the opening day underscored the challenges of competing against a relentless Australian attack. With two days remaining in the Border-Gavaskar series, much will depend on the team’s ability to regroup and deliver a strong performance under Bumrah’s leadership.
