Fri Jan 03 01:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Rohit Sharma Creates History, Misses Sydney Test; Bumrah Captains India
**Sydney, Australia:** In a surprising move, Indian captain Rohit Sharma has opted out of the fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney, marking the first time an Indian captain has been absent from a Test playing XI mid-series while still part of the squad. Jasprit Bumrah will lead the team in his absence.
This unprecedented decision has resulted in a new, albeit unwanted, record for Rohit. While captains have previously been replaced mid-series due to retirement or personal reasons, this is the first instance of a captain choosing to sit out a match while remaining in the squad. This is only the fourth such occurrence in the history of international cricket.
Previous instances include England’s Mike Denness in the 1974 Ashes series, Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq in a 2014 ODI series against Australia, and Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal during the 2014 T20 World Cup.
The Indian team will be hoping that Bumrah can guide them to victory in Sydney, securing a 2-2 draw in the series. A draw would retain India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy and keep their World Test Championship final hopes alive. The reasons behind Rohit’s absence have not been officially disclosed.
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