IND vs AUS: 'Deserved More Respect' - Sidhu Slams Indian Team Management For Dropping Captain Rohit Sharma

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Former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu slammed the Indian team management for dropping captain Rohit Sharma from the team for fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, saying the skipper "deserved more respect and faith".

After much speculation on the eve of the Sydney Test, Rohit indeed 'opted out' of the Indian playing 11 as Jasprit Bumrah walked out for the toss, where he said, "Our captain has shown leadership by opting to rest in this game."

Rohit has faced criticism over his Test batting since the Bangladesh series. He amassed only 42 runs in two Test matches while averaging just 10.50. In the following home series against New Zealand, Rohit scored 91 runs in 6 innings at an average of 15.16.

The seasoned opener, who missed the Perth Test, returned to the side as number five batter and even switched back to his original opening spot in the following Test, but has just 31 runs from five innings, with an average of 6.20 in the ongoing series against Australia.

There were loud calls for him to hang up his boots in the longest format after the disappointing loss in the Boxing Day Test, but no announcement was made. However, reports emerged that he may not feature in the SCG Test, and may have played his last game in the longest format at MCG.

While there have been mixed opinions on Rohit opting to rest from final Test of the five-match series, former Indian cricketer Sidhu felt a captain should be never be dropped during a series nor be allowed opt out of the Test.

Sidhu took to social media to express his opinion on the "bizarre" issue which has happened for the first time in Indian cricket as he gave example of Mark Taylor and Mohammed Azharuddin being backed as captains despite poor form.

"A Captain should never be dropped midstream nor given the option to opt out ... sends wrong signals .... Have seen Captain s like Mark Taylor, Azharuddin etc persisted as captain for a year despite bad form ....," Sidhu posted on X.

"Rohit deserved more respect and faith from the management ... Bizarre coz it happened for the first time in Indian cricket history .... Blunder - for a fallen lighthouse is more dangerous than a reef !," Sidhu concluded in his trademark fashion adding, "a captain never delinks his ship even if the ship is sinking."

Earlier, former Australia captain Mark Taylor said that there's no doubt that the 37-year-old was dropped following poor performance in recent times and also pointed out that the captain of a country does not opt out from the final match of a series.