'The chat that I had with the coach and selector was very simple. That I am not able to score runs, there is no form, it is an important match and we need a player with form.'
Rohit Sharma has spoken to clear all speculation about his captaincy and place in the squad.
In an honest chat with broadcaster Star Sports on Saturday, Day 2 of the fifth Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, India's captain reiterated that it was his decision to step down from captaincy for the series finale.
Asked if he was rested, dropped or opted out, Rohit, who scored just 31 runs in five innings across the three Tests he played in, replied: "I have not retired. I stood down; that is what I would say. Basically, the chat that I had with the coach and selector was very simple. That I am not able to score runs, there is no form, it is an important match and we need a player with form. As it is, in our batting, the form of the boys is not that good."
He went on to add: "You cannot carry a lot of out-of-form players in the team. This simple thing was going on in my mind. I am not going anywhere. That is why I wanted to tell the coach and the selector that this is what is going on in my mind.
"They backed my decision. They said that you have been playing for so many years. You know what you are doing. So, for me, it was difficult to take this decision. But if everything is kept in front, then this decision was sensible. I will not think much further."
He went on to express hope of a turnaround in his fortunes.
“We have seen a lot in cricket. Every minute, every second, every day, life changes. So I have a belief that things will change.
“But, at the same time, I have to be realistic as well. So, if a person has a mic inside, or a laptop, or a pen, what he writes, what he says, it does not change our life. We have played this game for so many years.
“So, these people cannot decide when we should go or when we should not play. I am a sensible man. I am a mature man. I am the father of two children. So I have a little brain to decide what I want in life.”
Asked if he took this decision after the Melbourne Test defeat, Rohit replied: “No. I took this decision after coming to Sydney. Because after the match we had only two days in between. And one day was New Year's eve. So on New Year's (day), I did not want to tell this to the coach and the selector.
“But it was running in my mind that I am trying and trying. But it is not happening. So I have to accept that it is not happening. And it was important for me to step aside.
“Whenever I am captaining, I don't believe in what is going to happen after five months or six months. What do you want in the immediate future, it is important to focus on this thing.
“Our entire focus was on these five matches. We had to retain the trophy, we had to win. So when we take such decisions, we do it keeping the team in front of us.”
Rohit also heaped praise on Bumrah.
“The way he (Bumrah) sets standards with the ball… he is absolute class. When I saw him for the first time in 2013, his graph has gone really high ever since and has gone from strength to strength.”
On Friday, Day 1 of the Sydney Test, the 37-year-old white ball great 'opted to rest' himself. The move paved the way for Shubman Gill's inclusion in the side.
His deputy Jasprit Bumrah took over the leadership role, something he had done in the series-opener as well when Rohit was on a short paternity break.
"Our captain has shown leadership, he has opted to rest," said Bumrah, at the toss that India won and opted to bat.
2024 was the least productive year for Rohit in Test cricket. He scored 619 runs in 26 innings across 14 matches, averaging 24.76.
Australia lead the series 2-1 and will clinch a spot in the World Test Championship by winning the ongoing Test.
India will retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy if they win the match.
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