NEW DELHI: Is Rohit Sharma dropped or rested? India captain Rohit on Saturday addressed the speculation regarding his absence from the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Rohit, who has played three Tests against Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, has struggled with the bat, averaging just 6.2, with a highest score of 10.
During the lunch break on Day 2, Rohit spoke to broadcasters and clarified the reason behind missing the SCG Test.
Broadcasters: There were reports suggesting you were rested, dropped, or opted out.
Rohit: None of that is true. I stood down. I informed the selectors and coach that I wasn’t scoring runs, so I decided to step away.
Rohit had stepped away from T20 international cricket last year after leading India to the World Cup, though he has not yet announced his retirement from ODIs.
He missed the first Test in Perth for the birth of his second child, and since then, his form has dipped, failing to exceed 10 runs in any of his five innings.
This slump in form mirrors his disappointing performance during India’s 3-0 home series loss to New Zealand in October-November.