The first innings of the fifth Test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on January 3, 2025, was nothing short of disappointment for Virat Kohli and his fans.

Virat Kohli’s struggles against deliveries outside the off-stump continued on Friday morning, as his style of batting has bas become predictable for opponents.

India was struggling at 17/2 after losing both openers early. The pressure was mounting, and Kohli’s job was to steady the ship. However, things didn’t go according to plan, as he soon found himself involved in a nerve-wracking moment during the early stages of his innings. Scott Boland, Australia’s reliable pacer, was bowling a probing length outside off-stump.

Kohli, who has often been troubled by deliveries in that area, jabbed at one outside off, and it flew to first slip. The ball appeared to brush the ground before Steve Smith made a stunning attempt at a catch. The Aussies were convinced it was the end of Kohli, but after a review, third umpire Joel Wilson deemed the delivery not out.

However, Kohli’s second brush with disaster came soon after. On the 31st over of the innings, Kohli again edged a Boland delivery and this time was caught at third slip by Webster.

7 out of 8 times, he’s been dismissed in a similar fashion in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Despite his brilliant century in the first Test of the series in Perth, his subsequent scores were far from reassuring. In the 2024-25 series, Kohli has struggled to find consistency, and his dismissal in Sydney only added fuel to the fire.

KOHLI IN ONGOING Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25:

Perth Test: 5 and 100*

Adelaide Test: 7 and 11 

Brisbane Test: 3

Melbourne Test: 36 and 5

Sydney Test: 17 and Yet to bat

Sydney: It was around half past one when Gautam Gambhir walked towards the centre strip at the Sydney Cricket Ground with Jasprit Bumrah in tow.

A few minutes later, Rohit Sharma also joined the duo in the middle but there was hardly any communication between the head coach and the designated captain.

Then Gambhir showed up at the pre-match press conference (usually the captain attends it) and chose not to confirm Rohit’s place in the playing eleven for the fifth and final Test.

“We will look at the pitch and decide,” Gambhir said when asked about Rohit’s place in the team.

In the media interaction, Gambhir also spoke about “honesty” and “performance being only criteria to be in Indian dressing room” and soon after that, he was seen engaged in a conversation with Bumrah while the rest of his teammates were warming up with a round of foot volley.

All present at the SCG witnessed a complete communication breakdown between skipper and the head coach. There were already enough indications but the developments on Thursday made one thing as clear as daylight.

Rohit Sharma is no longer in coach Gautam Gambhir’s scheme of things after scoring just one second innings half-century in the eight Tests that he has played this season.

It is learnt that an influential cricket administrator, who commands a lot of respect in the BCCI, has had a word with the head coach to explore if the skipper can be allowed to play the Sydney game and bow out from the Test arena.

However, the head coach’s priority is to ensure India wins in Sydney and remains in hunt for a place in the WTC final.    

Such is the state of affairs that Rohit was more comfortable speaking to his deputy Bumrah and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar than Gambhir.

After a game of foot volley in which Rohit and Rishabh Pant were on one side and Virat Kohli on the other, suddenly the penny dropped with a different looking slip cordon.

While Pant was behind the stumps for the slip catching session, the formation behind the batter had Virat Kohli at first slip, KL Rahul at second, Nitish Kumar Reddy at third with Yashasvi Jaiswal manning the gully.

There were no signs of Rohit yet as one headed to the net practice area outside the main stadium.

Ravindra Jadeja was the first one in the nets to receive throwdowns but then Kohli entered followed by Jaiswal and KL Rahul. When Shubman Gill joined the fourth net, the batting sequence of the top-order became somewhat clear. All this while, Rohit and Bumrah were in the dressing room.

The one who looked the most edgy was Kohli, who was in fact bowled twice during the session – once by Nitish Reddy and other time by Washington Sundar.

In one of the throwdown nets, Pant was facing Dayanand Garani.

Once Pant finished his nets, rather than walking back to the dressing room, he walked towards the small wooden gallery where a middle-aged couple were sitting. They happened to be Gill’s parents, the only ones allowed in the gallery area.

After nearly 35 minutes, Rohit quietly walked into the net arena and without his kit.

While Gambhir stood at the farthest net, talking to Bumrah, Rohit was at the other end conversing with video analyst Hari Prasad. They stood in their respective places and there was not even minimal interaction between the two.

After the top-order had almost finished their session, Rohit entered the nets. It was just like MCG where he had come to bat after all recognised batters had finished their stint even though he was set to open the innings.

How did Rohit look during his 30-odd minutes of practice? To be honest, he looked a shadow of his old self. He was bowled after missing the line of T Dilip’s throwdown. His reaction to deliveries were late.

The most interesting aspect was when Rohit was batting, at the adjacent nets, it was Reddy who was looking in fine touch as he middled most deliveries. The head coach was standing at the umpire’s position in the youngster’s nets as the captain went about his routines.

Once Rohit was done with his training, he along with Bumrah and Agarkar left the nets but Gambhir stayed back.

It is learnt that during this meeting after training it was decided that Rohit Sharma would be “rested”, which in Indian cricket parlance means “dropped by intimation”.

Nearly 45 minutes to an hour later when the team dispersed, most players came out of the exit door leading to the net area before heading towards the team bus.

Rohit didn’t come out with the team and boarded the bus after coming out from the other gate. As the Indian team were leaving, the SCG operations team was practising its pre-match drill.

“The Indian team led by captain Rohit Sharma,” blared the SCG loudspeaker. It sounded different.

India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign in Australia faces a shakeup.

Amid growing speculation and controversy surrounding the Indian cricket team in Australia, multiple reports indicate that Captain Rohit Sharma will be ‘rested’ for the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

The crucial fixture, starting Friday in Sydney, will see ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah lead the side as India aims to level the series 2-2 and retain the prestigious trophy.

As reported by The Indian Express newspaper, Rohit has informed Head Coach Gautam Gambhir and Chairman of the Selectors Ajit Agarkar about his decision to ‘opt out.’

Both Gambhir and Agarkar have reportedly agreed to his request, marking a significant shift in India’s lineup for the decisive match.

During match-eve training, Gambhir was seen having intense discussions with Bumrah, possibly prepping the pacer for the Sydney game.

Rohit made only a brief appearance at the nets, batting with side-arm bowlers and skipping routine slip-catching drills. His limited presence at practice fuelled speculation about his availability.

If confirmed, this could mean that Rohit’s Boxing Day Test in Melbourne may be his last for India as he might not be part of the plans for the summer tour of England.

In his absence, young talent Shubman Gill, who was dropped for the Melbourne Test, will return to the playing XI. Gill is expected to bat at number three, with K L Rahul opening alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant will retain his spot as wicketkeeper, and Prasidh Krishna will replace the injured Akash Deep, who was ruled out of the finale on Thursday.

When questioned about Rohit’s place in the playing XI, Gambhir remained tight-lipped, saying, ‘Everything is fine with Rohit. We are going to have a look at the wicket and announce the playing XI tomorrow.’

The team hopes this change in leadership will bring a new energy into the dressing room and help them retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by winning the final game in Sydney.