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While Rohit is set to become the first Indian captain to be dropped in an ongoing bilateral series, here are the past instances when other cricketers had to face the same fate.
Rohit Sharma set to dropped from Sydney Test
The fifth Test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) could witness one of the most bizarre incidents in Indian cricket history. Rumours suggest Rohit Sharma is set to be dropped from the final fixture of the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy. In his absence, Jasprit Bumrah will lead the side, as in the first Test in Perth when Rohit was unavailable due to the birth of his second child.
Rohit rejoined the squad during the series opener and returned as a middle-order batter in Adelaide before resuming his position at the top of the order in Brisbane and Melbourne. However, he couldn’t rediscover his rhythm in any of the outings. In five innings, the Indian skipper accumulated just 31 runs, averaging 6.20 – the worst by a visiting captain in Australia.
While Gautam Gambhir didn’t disclose the playing XI while addressing the pre-match press conference, multiple media outlets have reported Rohit’s omission and Bumrah taking charge. The fifth Test is likely to witness the return of Shubman Gill at number three, with KL Rahul moving to the top of the order.
While Rohit is set to become the first Indian captain to be dropped in an ongoing bilateral series, here are some past instances when other cricketers faced the same fate:
Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan): Misbah dropped himself from the third ODI against Australia in 2014 and was replaced by legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi.
Dinesh Chandimal (Sri Lanka): Wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Chandimal opted out of the team’s last three matches in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022. Legendary fast bowler Lasith Malinga took over captaincy duties and led the team to a historic win in the final, where they defeated India.
Mike Denness (England): In Ashes 1974/75, Denness opted out of the playing XI for the fourth Test, with John Edrich replacing him as captain.
