Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has expressed his disagreement with the team management and selectors following the decision to rest captain Rohit Sharma for the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. During the toss on Day 1, Jasprit Bumrah stepped in as captain and announced that Rohit would not be included in the playing XI.

Rohit Sharma has been experiencing a series of disappointing performances in Test matches, having scored only 31 runs across the three Tests in the current series against Australia.

Kaif took to social media to voice his concerns regarding the decision to rest or drop Rohit Sharma for this pivotal Sydney Test, where India has the opportunity to equalize the five-match series and secure the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

"Rohit Sharma is not just any captain who can be rested or omitted. Those responsible for dropping him, whether it be Gautam Gambhir or the selectors, have made a significant error in a crucial Test. He is a respected leader who has played a vital role in shaping this team," Kaif stat

"He has supported the younger players and led India to victory in the T20 World Cup just six months ago. He has brought immense joy to the nation. As a leader, he cannot be sidelined," he further emphasized.

Virat Kohli has also not managed to accumulate runs

Mohammad Kaif, while discussing Rohit Sharma, mentioned Virat Kohli, highlighting that even the 36-year-old batsman is facing difficulties in scoring runs. Although Virat Kohli managed to score a century in the second innings of the series opener in Perth, his overall performance has been lacking. He has frequently been dismissed in a similar manner, often chasing wide deliveries.

"Rohit Sharma has not been able to score runs, and neither has Virat Kohli. Usman Khawaja is also struggling to find form. Numerous players are failing to accumulate runs in this series, particularly as the matches are being contested on seaming pitches. Batting has proven to be quite challenging. The Sydney Test is also set to take place on a fast, bouncy surface," Kaif remarked.

"I believe that the captain should not be dropped. I was eager to see Rohit Sharma take the field and open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. I wanted him to lead India to victory in Sydney and secure the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. No one is scoring runs at the moment. It would be incorrect to drop him. The captain should always remain in the team; victories are achieved with the captain, and defeats are also faced with him. He is not a player who can simply be removed from the lineup," he continued.

Previously, Rohit Sharma was absent from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener in Perth due to the birth of his second child.

Reports suggest that Rohit Sharma may have played his final Test for India, with head coach Gautam Gambhir and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar indicating that they are considering alternatives for future Test matches.

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