Former Australia captain Mark Taylor questioned why India avoided openly acknowledging that skipper Rohit Sharma was dropped for the final Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Taylor expressed disbelief over reports from Indian media suggesting that Rohit had “opted to rest” for such a crucial, series-deciding match. According to Taylor, a captain stepping aside in this manner for a pivotal game is unprecedented and raises questions.
During the toss, vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah took Rohit’s place, stating that the skipper had chosen to rest. Bumrah framed this decision as a testament to the unity and selflessness within the Indian dressing room. Rohit, who had missed the first Test due to personal reasons, struggled with form throughout the series, managing only 31 runs across five innings at an average of 6.20.
Taylor, speaking on Triple M Cricket, expressed skepticism about the explanation provided. He referred to it as “sidestepping the point,” emphasizing that a captain does not simply “opt out” of a series-deciding match. He suggested that the more straightforward explanation was that Rohit had been dropped due to his poor form. Taylor argued that such a decision is a natural part of professional sports and should be acknowledged without hesitation. He clarified that being dropped for a match doesn’t mean permanent exclusion, but rather a temporary step taken in response to current performance.
Taylor’s comments highlight the ongoing debate over transparency in team decisions and the pressures of maintaining form at the highest levels of professional cricket.
