The axe on Rohit came on expected lines as the entire team combination went for a toss with the Indian captain’s movement in the batting order.
After missing the first Test due to the birth of his second child, Rohit returned to lead in Adelaide but things have been far from ideal since then.
He chose to bat in the middle-order for the Adelaide and Brisbane fixtures but decided to open in Melbourne. The move back to top forced the management to drop Shubman Gill and it backfired as Rohit’s dismal run with the bat continued and it rubbed off on his below-par decision making in the middle.
Rohit has had a lean patch with the bat for quite a while now. In the ongoing BGT, Rohit has mustered just 31 runs from five innings at an average of 6.20.
Under Bumrah’s captaincy, India won the series opener, by 295 runs in Perth, before things took a turn for the worse in the remainder of the fixtures.
India will now hope the change in leadership changes the energy in the dressing room and they retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after winning the final game in Sydney.
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh was axed from Australia’s team for the series-deciding fifth Test against India in Sydney with Beau Webster to make his debut.
Mitchell Starc was selected despite carrying a rib niggle and will take his spot in the attack alongside Pat Cummins, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon.
Marsh’s position has been under intense scrutiny after a poor series.
Marsh has failed to fire with the bat and sent down just 16 wicketless overs across the last three Tests after a back problem in the opening match at Perth.
Left-armer Starc bowled 41 overs in the last Test at Melbourne — which Australia won by 184 runs on day five — but clearly struggled in the latter stages.
Australia are 2-1 up in the series and will regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the first time since 2014-15 if they win or draw the Test.
Victory would also guarantee Australia a place in the June World Test Championship final at Lord’s against South Africa.
Australia: Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (Capt.), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
