New Delhi: Rohit Sharma on Friday became the first Indian skipper to drop himself from the playing X1 of a Test match in the middle of the series. The Indian skipper, who has looked out-of-sorts in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, stepped aside from the side in the team’s best interest as Jasprit Bumrah returned to lead the team in the fifth and the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Rohit’s horror run Down Under, where he has scored just 31 runs in 3 matches with a best score of 10, became a big talking point ahead of the series finale. Signs were there all along on the eve of the SCG Test that Rohit won’t be part of the playing X1 and Gautam Gambhir’s press conference where he refused to confirm his captain’s spot all but confirmed it. Even in the training session, Rohit participated in warm-up exercises, including a football drill, but was conspicuously absent during the slip-catching session and batted briefly in the nets.
During the toss, Bumrah, the stand-in skipper, stated that Rohit had opted to ‘rest’ as Shubman Gill, who was unceremoniously dropped from the Melbourne Test, returned to the playing X1.
While Rohit became the first Indian to drop himself midway through the series, there have been previous instances when captains have wielded the axe on themselves.
Captains to get dropped in the middle of a series
Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan, 2014)
Pakistan legend Misbah-ul-Haq dropped himself from the third ODI against Australia in the middle of the series and gave the captaincy responsibilities to Shahid Afridi to lead the team in his stead. Misbah took the tough call after scoring 0 and 15 in the first two matches.
Dinesh Chandimal (Sri Lanka, 2014)
Chandimal made an inspired decision during the 2014 T2o World Cup and dropped himself ahead of the semi-final and final to maintain team balance. Lasith Malinga replaced Chandimal as the skipper and Sri Lanka went on to win the World Cup.
Brendon McCullum (New Zealand, 2016)
In 2016, McCullum, New Zealand captain, endured a horror run and decided to contemplate his future as captain. He eventually retired from international cricket, including quitting as the team’s captain.
Alastair Cook (2016-17)
In the same year, England captain Alastair Cook came under immense pressure due to a string of poor performances. He eventually relinquished his position as captain in 2017.
Mike Denness (England, 1974 Ashes)
During the 1974 Ashes series, English skipper Denness dropped himself from the fourth Test after a series of poor batting performances and two heavy defeats. Tony Greig replaced him in the fourth Test but England lost the match under his captaincy. Denness returned to lead the side for the fifth Test, but Australia ran out 4-1 winners.
While Rohit Sharma became the first Indian to drop himself midway through the series, there have been previous instances when captains have wielded the axe on themselves. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
