India's 1983 World Cup-winning star Madan Lal believes that skipper Rohit Sharma has not been benched for the Sydney Test of Border- Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 the management must have consulted him. Rohit who joined the squad after first Test match has failed to perform in his last three Test outings against Australia.
After failing to perform, the India captain opted out from the playing XI of the last Test match and Jasprit Bumrah came to toss for India.
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"Rohit Sharma is my favourite cricketer. Rohit Sharma has not been benched, but the management must have consulted him, and I think it's his decision not to play ," Madan Lal told ANI.
There were reports that the Sydney Test will be Rohit's last Test match and he will announce his retirement. However, Madal Lal believes that Rohit knows the right time to say goodbye.
"I won't say about his retirement, but I have enjoyed his batting. He has entertained a lot and won a lot of matches for India. But a time comes when you have to make a decision. You feel that you can't pull the weight of the team anymore. Rohit knows that he is struggling to perform, so is it right for me to play for India or not?" he added.
Coming back to the fifth Test match, After opting to bat on Day 1 India's batters again failed to perform as Australia bundled out visitors on just 185 runs. Rishabh Pant is India's highest run-getter scoring 40 runs. However, stand-in captain Bumrah change the momentum of the game picking Usman Khawaja's wicket during the last over of day 1. Australia's Scott Boland was the pick of the bowlers as he scalped four wickets. On the other hand, Mitchell Starc got three.