The captain of the Indian cricket team is sitting out of a crucial Test match for the first time ever in the middle of an ongoing series as defeats in Australia beckon generational change in the country’s most popular and richest sport.

Meanwhile, Alex Carey has slapped down calls for Mitch Marsh to be axed for the series finale, while Glenn McGrath thinks Mitchell Starc should play even if he isn't fully-fit. Marsh has rarely bowled and struggled for runs with the bat, with scores of 9, 5, 4, 2 and 0 from his past five innings.

Jasprit Bumrah won the toss for India after replacing the axed Rohit Sharma as captain and elected to bat first in the fifth and final test against Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday. Pace bowler Bumrah stepped into the role and led India to a thumping victory when Rohit,

Indian captain Rohit Sharma has excused himself from the fifth and final Test against Australia by opting to "rest" himself following a string of underwhelming performances. The decision has put a question mark on Sharma's future in the longest format.

Now with Rohit Sharma opting out, India is most likely to be captained by Jasprit Bumrah who led India to a dominating 295-run win in Perth in November 2024.

Rohit Sharma may have played his final Test match after India coach Gautam Gambhir refused to confirm whether his captain would play in the final game of the series against Australia in Sydney. The home side sealed a thrilling 184-run victory at Melbourne Cricket Ground to take a 2-1 series lead after a superb bowling performance in the evening