Rohit Sharma spoke at length about his decision to skip the fifth Test against Australia, saying poor form was the reason he “stepped down” from the game.
The India captain did not make the XI in Sydney, with various reports differing in the reasons for his omission. Rohit averaged 6.20 in five innings on the current tour after missing the first Test due to the birth of his second child. India, under Jasprit Bumrah, won the Perth Test, but were unable to clinch the next three games, as India slumped to a 2-1 deficit heading into Sydney. Bumrah was asked to lead in the fifth game, where he mentioned that Rohit had “opted out” of playing.
On Saturday, Rohit clarified to Star Sports that he had “stepped down” but ruled out immediate retirement. Interestingly, Rohit had not lined up for the national anthems ahead of the game and was also not mentioned in the list of reserves during the toss.
“Made the decision after we came to Sydney”
Rohit confirmed that he decided to not play the fifth Test at the last minute and only conveyed his decision to the management, including head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar after the team landed in Sydney. Ahead of the game, Gambhir had addressed the media, stating that Rohit’s place in the XI would be determined by the pitch.
“I made this decision after coming here [to Sydney]," Rohit said. "We had only two days between the matches. On New Year's, I didn't want to have this chat with the selector and the coach. But it was in my mind that I am trying my best but I am not getting the runs. I have to accept it and have to get myself out of the way.”
Rohit, who averaged 13.30 in ten innings against Bangladesh and New Zealand, also led India to their first home series defeat against the Black Caps. He said: “The chat that I had with the coach and the selector was very simple: my bat is not scoring runs, I am not in form, this is an important match, and we need players who are in form. As it is, the boys are not in great form. So I had this simple thought in my mind: we can't carry out-of-form players.
"That's why I thought I should tell the coach and the selector what's going on in my mind. They backed my decision. They said you have been playing for so many years, you are the best judge of what you are doing."
“Not a retirement”
However, he categorically stated that he has not retired. “None of that [about being rested, dropped or whether he has opted out]. I have stepped down. This decision is not a retirement decision. Nor am I going to take myself out of the game. I sat out of this match because runs are not coming off my bat. There is no guarantee runs won't come five or two months down the line. I have seen a lot in cricket that life changes every second, every minute, every day.
“This is my thinking and this is how I played my cricket and this is how I am outside cricket as well. It was a difficult decision for me, but if you keep everything in mind, this was a sensible decision," he said. "I am not thinking too far. Right now, what does the team need? That is what I was thinking. Nothing else."
“Life won’t change by what people say”
Rohit also waved aside suggestions that criticism of his leadership led to him not playing the game, reiterating that the team came first. "I have confidence in myself that things can change, but at the same time, I have to be realistic as well. So life won't change by what people with a mic, pen or laptop write or say. They can't decide when we should retire when we should sit out, when we should captain. I am a sensible man, a mature man, father of two kids. So I know what I need in life.
“We call it a team, so always think about what the team needs.”
“Our boys will be silent till a particular time”
Rohit also addressed the controversy around Sam Konstas, who had uttered a few words to Bumrah at the end of day one. It resulted in the Indian team celebrating animatedly around him after dismissing Usman Khawaja, with the incident seemingly riling them up. Rohit said, his team will retaliate if poked.
“Our boys are silent only till a particular time. If you are going to poke them, then they will retaliate. We all are here to play cricket. Please don't do such nonsense. These antics don't look nice. Our boys are very classy. We only focus on the given task and nothing else. It was important for us to scalp one or two wickets at that moment, to keep the pressure on Australia.”
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