Rohit Sharma has no intention of retiring, nor is he stepping down from his role as India's captain. Following the significant news regarding his absence from the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Sydney, Rohit addressed the situation, clarifying that he was neither resting nor withdrawing and certainly not dropped from the team. He indicated that he would prefer to describe his status as having "stood down."

"I stood down, that is what I would say," Rohit stated during an interview with Star Sports at the Lunch break on Day 2 of the Sydney Test.

The Indian captain elaborated on his reasoning for not participating in the fifth Test and detailed how he communicated his decision to head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar.

‘I was not scoring runs, we needed players in form’: Rohit reveals why he dropped himself

The discussion I had with the coach and selectors revolved around my lack of runs, emphasizing the necessity for players in form. The straightforward reality is that out-of-form players cannot be retained indefinitely. It was my responsibility to communicate my perspective to the coach and selectors. They responded by stating, "You have been playing for a long time; the decision is yours." Although it was a challenging choice, I believed it was essential for the team's progress. I made this decision after arriving in Sydney. With only two days available, one of which was New Year's, I preferred not to inform the selectors during that time. Despite my efforts, I was unable to improve my performance, making it crucial for me to step aside.

Rohit, however, clarified that he has no intention of retiring from any format at this moment. He is preparing to return to form by scoring runs.

"The decision is not about retirement. I will not be stepping down as captain. I have chosen to step aside from this Test due to my insufficient run-scoring. There is no assurance that I will not score runs in two months or five months. I have witnessed similar situations unfold numerous times. Nevertheless, I must also remain realistic," he stated.

When Star Sports presenter Jatin Sapru expressed gratitude and offered an emotional farewell for his selfless decision, Rohit interjected, saying, "I'm not going anywhere," before departing, leaving both Sapru and Irfan Pathan amused.

Read Also: Jasprit Bumrah Sets New Record, Surpassing Bishan Bedi's 47-Year Milestone in Australia

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!