Rohit Sharma 'rested' for Sydney Test

Dubai: Embattled Indian cricket team skipper Rohit Sharma has been "rested" for the fifth and final Test against Australia, which begins at Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday (3.30am UAE), Indian media reports, quoting unnamed sources.

The 37-year-old has been going through a lean patch in the last two series and he has not been in the best of form against Australia.

However, Rohit Sharma has not gone past 10 runs in the five innings so far and his position has come under question.

Gambhir's non-committal response

With speculation mounting that the veteran could be axed, the captain did not attend India’s the press conference on the eve of the Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Instead coach Gautam Gambhir faced the media but offered no confirmation of Rohit’s fate.

“Everything is fine with Rohit and I don’t think it’s anything traditional,” he said when asked why Rohit was absent from the usual media duties.

“The head coach is here and that should be good enough.

“We are going to have a look at the wicket and finalise (the team) tomorrow.”

Winning start

Asked again if Rohit would be part of that team, Gambhir responded: “The answer remains the same.”

Rohit missed the first Test in Perth for the birth of his second child, with Bumrah assuming the captaincy and guiding India to their only win of the five-match series so far.

Akash Deep ruled out

Australia lead the series 2-1 with India needing to win in Sydney to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

There will be one more change to the side that lost the fourth Test at Melbourne this week by 184 runs after pace bowler Akash Deep was ruled out with a back problem.

Either Harshit Rana or Prasidh Krishna could play instead in the match which begins in Sydney on Friday.

- With inputs from AFP