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"Without Jasprit Bumrah...": Australia Legend's Big Claim On Border-Gavaskar Trophy Result

Jasprit Bumrah's incredible performance has prevented the Border-Gavaskar series from becoming completely lopsided in Australia's favour, said pace great Glenn McGrath, lauding the India spearhead for his ball-control and ability to adapt quickly. India trail 1-2 in the five-match series that will conclude with the game here starting Friday. Bumrah has been the visiting side's standout performer with 30 wickets so far at a jaw-dropping average of less than 20. India's batting, however, has been poor and lacked planning.

"Forced Retirement?": Rohit Sharma's Name Goes Missing From 16-Member India Team List Too, Internet Furious

All speculations proved true on Friday as Rohit Sharma missed the fifth India vs Australia Test in Sydney. Stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah won the toss and decided to bat against Pat Cummins' Australia in a Test that will decide India's fate as far as World Test Championship final qualification is concerned. Rohit Sharma scored 31 runs in five innings across three Tests and there was a growing feeling that his end was near.

LIVE | Australia v India: 5th Test, Day 1

Australia: Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

"At Toss, Jasprit Bumrah Mentioned...": Ravi Shastri Drops Big Rohit Sharma Retirement Hint

Former India cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri feel that the Boxing Day Test might have been Rohit Sharma's final appearance in Test cricket, following his bold call to rest himself for the series finale that began here on Friday. The 37-year-old chose to sit out with the series on the line, having scored only 31 runs in five innings across three Tests. "I think it probably means that (if) India don't qualify for the WTC final, the Melbourne Test will be Rohit Sharma's last game," Gavaskar said during the lunch break on day one.

Rohit Sharma 'Dropped' Not 'Opted To Rest': Gautam Gambhir's Team India Slammed By Great

Several experts were taken aback after India skipper Rohit Sharma 'opted out' of the Playing XI for the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney on Friday. India are being led by star pacer Jasprit Bumrah for the final Test of the five-match series. The hosts have already gained an unassailable 2-1 lead after winning the fourth match in Melbourne by 184 runs. Rohit was facing severe criticism for his poor leadership and batting skills from many former cricketers and fans. Under Bumrah's captaincy, India won the opening Test by 10 wickets and he was handed over the job again for the final game.

Watch: Virat Kohli, Steve Smith's Exchange After Umpiring Drama Over Golden Duck At SCG

Star India batter Virat Kohli earned a valuable lifeline on the opening day of the fifth Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Fans around the world were left shocked after regular skipper Rohit Sharma was rested and star pacer Jasprit Bumrah was named the stand-in captain for the final Test of the five-match series. Opting to bat first, India faced early blows as openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul were sent back with only on the board. After their dismissals, Kohli joined hands with Shubman Gill, where he survived a close call on the very first delivery that he faced.

"Rohit Sharma Not All-time Great To...": Sanjay Manjrekar On 'Mystery' Around Star's Absence, Questions Ravi Shastri

Rohit Sharma's absence from India's XI against Australia for the fifth Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy probably started a new chapter in Indian cricket. After suffering from a poor run of form, Sharma decided to opt out of the Sydney Test. This is probably the first instance of an Indian captain dropping himself from the playing XI owing to poor form, according to Sunil Gavaskar. However, former India star Sanjay Manjrekar, part of the commentary panel for the official broadcasters, was intrigued that there was so little spoken about Rohit's absence at the toss.

End Of Rohit Sharma, The Test Cricketer? What 'Opting To Rest' From Do-Or-Die 5th Test vs Australia Means For India Star's Future

Is Rohit Sharma's journey as an Indian cricket team Test star over? After he 'opted to rest' (in stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah's words) from the India vs Australia 5th Test in Sydney, all indications point towards one direction: We may have seen the last of Rohit Sharma in India Test whites. From the time India coach Gautam Gambhir remained non-committal about the place of Rohit Sharma in India playing XI in the pre-match press conference on Thursday morning, the rumours had started gathering pace. By evening, sources told NDTV that Rohit Sharma would be rested and Jasprit Bumrah would be the captain. On Friday morning, all rumours were officially confirmed.

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"Without Jasprit Bumrah...": Australia Legend's Big Claim On Border-Gavaskar Trophy Result

"Forced Retirement?": Rohit Sharma's Name Goes Missing From 16-Member India Team List Too, Internet Furious

LIVE | Australia v India: 5th Test, Day 1

"At Toss, Jasprit Bumrah Mentioned...": Ravi Shastri Drops Big Rohit Sharma Retirement Hint

Rohit Sharma 'Dropped' Not 'Opted To Rest': Gautam Gambhir's Team India Slammed By Great

Watch: Virat Kohli, Steve Smith's Exchange After Umpiring Drama Over Golden Duck At SCG

"Rohit Sharma Not All-time Great To...": Sanjay Manjrekar On 'Mystery' Around Star's Absence, Questions Ravi Shastri

End Of Rohit Sharma, The Test Cricketer? What 'Opting To Rest' From Do-Or-Die 5th Test vs Australia Means For India Star's Future