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Team India opening batter Rohit Sharma clarified that his absence from the fifth Test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 in Sydney was not due to being dropped.

He firmly dismissed any retirement rumors, explaining that the decision to step aside was made after discussions with the coach and selectors. With Jasprit Bumrah leading the team for the final Test, Shubman Gill replaced Rohit in the playing XI. Despite recent struggles in the format, where he managed only 31 runs from five innings with an average of just 6.20, Rohit assured there was no immediate thought of retirement.

I Am Not Thinking Much of the Future – Rohit Sharma

In an interview with Star Sports during the lunch break on Day 2, Rohit Sharma clarified that he was neither rested nor dropped from the team. Acknowledging his recent struggles with form, he admitted that runs had been hard to come by. Sharma stated that, given the significance of the must-win game, he felt it was the right moment to step aside and make way for others.

“I stood down, that’s what I will say. There are fifty words that’ll be thrown around. The chat that I had with the coach and the selectors was simple – runs weren’t coming off my bat, I wasn’t in form and it was a must-win match. I felt I had to inform the coach and the selectors and this was my decision. They told me you know your game best,” Rohit said.

“I am not thinking much of the future. At this point, this is what the team required. I took this call after coming here (not in Melbourne). We had only three days after the last Test and one of them was New Year’s. I didn’t want to tell the coach and selectors on that day. But it was important for me,” he added.

Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah Stuns Fans by Leaving Sydney Midway Through 5th Test

Rohit Sharma was notably absent from the team sheet for the Sydney Test, with Jasprit Bumrah explaining that the captain had “opted to rest.” However, speculation was rife among former cricketers, with many suggesting that this could signal the end of Rohit’s Test career. In 2024, Rohit struggled, managing only 164 runs at a low average of 10.9 across his last eight Test matches.

India finds itself trailing 1-2 in the five-match series in Australia. After winning the first Test in Perth, they lost the day-night Test in Adelaide, followed by a rain-affected draw in Brisbane. The series was effectively sealed in Melbourne, where a Boxing Day defeat handed Australia an unassailable 2-1 lead.

Rohit Sharma made it clear that his decision to sit out the ongoing match is not tied to thoughts of retirement. He stressed that he remains optimistic about rediscovering his batting form soon. Additionally, Rohit expressed that the opinions of outsiders have no influence on his career choices.

“Like I said, this decision is not a retirement decision, nor am I stepping aside from the game,” Rohit said in the same interaction. “I am sitting out this game since my bat isn’t clicking. It doesn’t mean it won’t click five months or two months down the line. But at the same time I have to be realistic. Whatever someone writes sitting behind a laptop or pen doesn’t matter. They don’t get to decide when I retire, when I don’t play. I am a successful man, a father of two kids so I know what I need in life.”