In a surprising turn of events, Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma is expected to be ‘rested’ for the upcoming fifth Test against Australia, set to begin Thursday in Sydney. Reliable sources suggest that fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah will take over the captaincy in Sharma’s absence.

Rohit Sharma, who has been struggling for form in the ongoing five-match series, has only managed a total of 31 runs across three matches. His performance has been a concern, particularly following his absence from the first Test, during which he chose to stay with his family after the birth of his second child. Since rejoining the squad, however, he has failed to make an impact with the bat, leaving questions about his fitness and readiness for the final match.

Adding fuel to the speculation, head coach Gautam Gambhir declined to provide a definitive answer on Sharma’s participation during the pre-match press conference on Wednesday. When questioned about the likelihood of the captain playing in Sydney, Gambhir responded ambiguously, emphasizing that the decision would be made based on the pitch conditions.

“We will assess the pitch and make a final call tomorrow,” Gambhir stated, steering clear of confirming Sharma’s position in the playing XI. “Everything is fine with Rohit, and there is no major issue. The head coach’s presence should suffice for today’s presser,” he added.

The Sydney Test holds critical importance for India’s hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final, with the team trailing 1-2 in the series. A win in this final Test is essential for India to keep their dreams alive, with the outcome also dependent on results from the ongoing series between Australia and Sri Lanka later this month.

India’s unexpected defeat in Melbourne has placed the team’s WTC fate in jeopardy, and now, all eyes are on the Sydney Test to determine whether they can salvage their chances.

The quartet of shooter Manu Bhaker, chess world champion D Gukesh, men’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete Praveen Kumar were on Thursday named recipients of this year’s Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sporting honor.

Manu Bhaker, at 22 years old, made history as independent India’s first athlete to secure two medals in a single Olympic edition, achieving bronze in both the 10m air pistol individual and the 10m air pistol mixed team events during the Paris Olympics in August.

This announcement followed a week of controversy surrounding her nomination, which had initially been overlooked. Bhaker later acknowledged a potential “lapse” on her part in the nomination process, stating, “I believe there has been a lapse, possibly on my part, while filing for the nomination, which is being corrected. Irrespective of the award, I shall remain motivated to win more medals for my country. I kindly request everyone not to speculate on this matter.”

At the Paris Olympics in August, Bhaker made history by becoming the first athlete from independent India to win two medals in a single Olympic edition, clinching bronze in both the individual 10m air pistol and the 10m air pistol mixed team events.

In the same Olympic Games, Harmanpreet Singh led the Indian hockey team to its second consecutive bronze medal. D. Gukesh, at just 18 years old, became the youngest chess world champion and contributed significantly to India’s historic gold medal victory at the Chess Olympiad last year.

The fourth recipient, Praveen Kumar, was recognized for his remarkable achievement in the Paris Paralympics, where he earned the T64 high-jump title. The T64 classification is designated for athletes who have one or both legs missing below the knee and who use a prosthetic leg for running.

The awardees will be honored by the President of India during a ceremonial function at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17, 2025, at 11:00 AM, as announced by the sports ministry in a press release. “The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organised function at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 17th January, 2025 (Friday) at 1100 hours,” the sports ministry said in a press release.

Virat Kohli could be making a return to the role of India’s Test captain, according to reports, as the future of Rohit Sharma as the team’s leader hangs in the balance following mounting criticism over his recent performances and leadership.

Rohit, who has struggled with the bat and faced intense scrutiny after India’s recent home Test series loss to New Zealand, is expected to step away from the Test team after the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. While a full retirement isn’t immediately on the cards, reports suggest that he may not feature in India’s Test plans moving forward.

Kohli, who stepped down from the captaincy after leading India in 68 Tests, could be brought back to steer the team. The former captain remains India’s most successful in the format, with 40 Test victories to his name, and was pivotal in India’s historic series win in Australia in 2018-19. His leadership credentials and record of success could make him the ideal candidate to reclaim the captaincy, especially as selectors may not fully trust the younger generation to take on the captaincy mantle.

Rohit’s uncertain future adds to the current uncertainty within the team, with reports indicating that he may miss the upcoming series-deciding Test against Australia, which is set to begin in Sydney on Friday. This uncertainty prompted questions about his place in the squad.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the situation at a press conference, confirming that the final decision on the playing XI would be made after evaluating the pitch conditions on match day. “Everything is fine with Rohit and I don’t think it’s anything traditional,” Gambhir said, reassuring fans about Rohit’s fitness. “We are going to have a look at the wicket and finalize (the team) tomorrow.”

When asked about the possibility of Rohit playing in Sydney, Gambhir reiterated, “The answer remains the same,” suggesting that a decision would only be made closer to the match.

As the cricketing world waits for clarity, Kohli’s potential return to the captaincy is creating buzz, with many hopeful that the former leader can bring India back to its winning ways in Test cricket.