India drop Rohit, win toss and choose to bat in fifth Australia test

SYDNEY : Jasprit Bumrah won the toss for India after replacing the axed Rohit Sharma as captain and elected to bat first in the fifth and final test against Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

Pace bowler Bumrah stepped into the role and led India to a thumping victory when Rohit, who has struggled for runs in the series, missed the first test in Perth for personal reasons.

"Our captain has shown leadership by opting to rest in this game," Bumrah said of the 37-year-old Rohit.

"That shows there's a lot of unity in this team. There's no selfishness. Whatever is in the team's best interest, we are looking to do that."

Shubman Gill comes into the Indian top order to replace Rohit in one of two changes to the side with Prasidh Krishna in for Akash Deep, who is struggling with a back problem, in the pace attack.

Australia lead the series 2-1 after rebounding from the thrashing in the Perth opener to win the tests in Adelaide and Melbourne, which sandwiched a draw in Brisbane.

WTC FINAL BERTHS AT STAKE

India could still retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and keep alive their hopes of a spot in this year's World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa with a victory over the next five days.

Australia, who will lock up the second berth in the WTC final with a win, handed a first test cap to all-rounder Beau Webster after dropping Mitchell Marsh from an otherwise unchanged team.

Home skipper Pat Cummins said he would also have chosen to bat had he won the toss but was quite excited to bowl under leaden skies on a wicket with a greenish tinge.

"Hopefully we can get the ball to swing around a bit," he said. "All the boys have pulled up well after a short turnaround."

Despite some morning drizzle, the weather forecast