Rishabh Pant reveals who made the call to drop Rohit Sharma for Sydney Test

Team India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant opened up about Rohit Sharma's absence from the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 series. Rishabh Pant described it as an emotional decision, acknowledging that Rohit Sharma has been captain of the Indian cricket team for a long time.

Rohit missed the first Test in Perth due to the birth of his second child but returned to captain the team in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide. However, his batting performance was disappointing, scoring only 31 runs in five innings across three Tests at a dismal average of 6.20, with a highest score of 10.

Apart from his batting, India's struggles under his captaincy were evident. The visiting team lost two matches and drew a rain-affected game. India squandered a 1-0 lead to trail 1-2 in the series after their loss at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Rohit opted to rest for the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

It Was Definitely an Emotional Decision - Rishabh Pant on Rohit Sharma

Jasprit Bumrah, who captained the team in the Perth Test, is leading India in the ongoing fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. After the first day's play, Rishabh Pant stated that the decision to drop Rohit Sharma was made by team management and that he was not part of the discussions.

"I think it was definitely an emotional decision because he's been captain for a long time. We see him as a leader of the team. But some decisions are not in your hands; it's a management call. I wasn’t part of that conversation, so I can't explain anything beyond that," Pant told reporters.

Pant played a pivotal role for India on a challenging green pitch under overcast conditions after the team chose to bat first. Pant displayed remarkable patience after walking in at 57-3 at the start of the second session. He endured several body blows from the pacers and scored 40 runs off 98 balls.

The Message Is to Be Positive All the Time - Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant noted that Jasprit Bumrah consistently encourages the team to stay optimistic, focus on the present, and give their best effort on the field. He emphasized that this approach keeps the team motivated and helps maintain momentum throughout the game.

"I think mostly the message is to be positive all the time. Don't think about what has already happened. Just give your best on the field. And that's what you want from your captain: being in a positive frame of mind and keeping the game moving forward each and every day. That's the idea," Pant said.

Sometimes I Feel Like Giving Tips - Rishabh Pant

The wicketkeeper-batter said that he sometimes feels like offering tips, but he believes it’s important to have open conversations with teammates. He emphasized that such exchanges are natural in cricket and can be beneficial for the team.

"No, sometimes I feel like giving tips. I think it's all fair. In place of cricket, you can have a conversation with each and every player," Pant concluded.

Also read: Watch: Rohit Sharma's name removed from India's team sheet after heated chat with Gautam Gambhir