Rohit Sharma to miss Sydney Test? Has an Indian Captain Ever Been Dropped Midway Through a Series?

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In a significant turn of events, India captain Rohit Sharma is set to be dropped from the fifth and deciding Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney due to prolonged poor form.

This will mark the first time an Indian captain has been excluded from a Test XI due to performance issues. Jasprit Bumrah will take over the reins, continuing from his captaincy in the first Test in Perth when Rohit was on paternity leave. IND vs AUS: Karma and poor form catch up, Rohit Sharma 'opts' out of Sydney Test | Opinion

Rohit Sharma's Struggles with the Bat

Rohit's form has been a concern throughout the series. Since returning to the XI, he has aggregated just 31 runs in five innings at a dismal average of 6.20, the lowest ever by a visiting captain in Australia. After trying different positions in the batting order, including No. 6 in Adelaide and Brisbane, and returning to the opening slot in Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test, Rohit has been unable to rediscover his rhythm.

While head coach Gautam Gambhir remained non-committal about Rohit's participation in the Sydney Test, it became evident by Thursday afternoon that he would not be part of the playing XI. "Everything is fine with Rohit, and I don't think it's anything traditional," Gambhir said when asked about the captain's absence from the pre-match press conference. "The head coach is here, and that should be good enough."

SCG Test: Possible Changes in Team India Playing XI

With Rohit's omission, KL Rahul is expected to return to the opening slot alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. Shubman Gill, who was dropped for the fourth Test, will make his way back into the XI at No. 3. Gambhir confirmed that the final decision on the playing XI would be made on the morning of the match. Also Read: MyKhel Exclusive | Gautam Gambhir has not been in control - Surinder Khanna

Historical Precedents of Captains Dropped Mid-Series

Instances of captains being dropped mid-series are rare in international cricket, but not unprecedented. Some notable examples include (as per statisticians Mohandas Menon and Rajesh Kumar):

• Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan, 2014): Misbah dropped himself from the third ODI against Australia, with Shahid Afridi taking over the captaincy.
• Dinesh Chandimal (Sri Lanka, 2014): Chandimal sat out the last three matches of the T20 World Cup, including the semi-final and final, allowing Lasith Malinga to lead.
• Mike Denness (England, 1974): Denness opted out of the fourth Test of the Ashes, handing over the captaincy to John Edrich. However, Denness returned to lead in subsequent matches.

Rohit Sharma's case is particularly significant as it mirrors a rare instance in Indian cricket history. "The last time an Indian captain from Bombay (now Mumbai) was dropped was Polly Umrigar during the 1958-59 series against the West Indies. Umrigar resigned on the morning of the Test after the BCCI President, Ratibhai Patel, insisted on including Gujarat's Jasu Patel in the XI," posted senior writer Makarand Waingankar on X.

The Road Ahead for Team India and Rohit Sharma

As the series heads into its deciding Test, India's strategy under captain Bumrah and coach Gambhir will be closely watched. The team will aim to regroup and deliver a strong performance to draw the series 2-2 and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

For Rohit, the break might offer an opportunity to recalibrate his approach and regain his batting form. The Sydney Test begins on Friday, with India's revamped lineup set to take on Australia in what is expected to be an enthralling finale to the series.