Rohit Sharma has revealed his reasons for opting out of the Sydney Test during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. In a podcast with Michael Clarke, he discussed an argument with coach Gautam Gambhir and selector Ajit Agarkar. Rohit felt he wasn't in good form and wanted Shubman Gill to play instead, prioritizing team needs over personal performance.
The Indian Test skipper Rohit Sharma has finally opened up on his decision of opting out of the Sydney Test in January this year. In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, he didn't turn out to be in his best form. He revealed that he had an argument with head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar over his decision to sit out in the fifth Test.
In a recent podcast with Australian skipper Michael Clarke, Rohit said that
"I spoke to the coach and the selector, and they kind of agreed, not agreed; there was an argument around it."
"I had to be honest with myself. I wasn't hitting the ball well. I didn't want to put myself there only because we had dropped the other guys who were struggling as well."
Further, he said that he wanted Shubman to play, as he's such a good player. He also stated that he himself was not in good form at the moment, so why not give a chance to someone else?
He said,
"We somehow wanted (Shubman) Gill to play; he's such a good player. He missed out in the previous Test match. I'm like, Okay, if I'm not hitting the ball well, it is right now. Things can change five days later, ten days later."
The 37-year-old also explained that the decision should be made by keeping the team first and what the team wants in mind, and the decision should be made accordingly.
"You try and put the team first; you just look at what the team wants and make the decision accordingly. Sometimes it will work; sometimes it may not. That's how it goes. Every decision you try and make, you aren't guaranteed success."
"I didn't have a great time (in Adelaide). Then I went back to the room, and I was like, I should have opened, man. I would rather fail doing what I do and where I do it. That's my place; that's my position. I would rather go there and bat; whether I get success or not, it's a different story. But I'm in my natural position for the team."