NEW DELHI: India captain Rohit Sharma said Saturday he stood down from the decisive ongoing fifth Australia Test because he was not in form but insisted he was not retiring.
The acclaimed opener has had a poor series, with critics suggesting his omission from the Test — with the visitors down 2-1 going into the match at the Sydney Cricket Ground — was the end of his red-ball career.
But the 37-year-old has hit back, telling Indian broadcaster Star Sports at the SCG: “I’m not going anywhere.”
“This decision is not a retirement decision nor am I going to step aside from the game,” he added.
Rohit missed the first Test in Perth for the birth of his second child and has not looked fully engaged since, failing to get past 10 runs in any of his five innings.
Rohit, speaking in Hindi, said that he had told the coach and selectors that he was “not in form” and that for the critical final Test, the team needed “a player in form.”
His recent lacklustre performances come on the back of a similarly poor return during India’s 3-0 home series loss to New Zealand during October-November.
Rohit quit T20 international cricket last year after lifting the World Cup.
Stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah insisted at the coin toss on Friday that Rohit had “opted to rest” for the good of the team rather than being forced out.
Rohit on Saturday called Bumrah “absolute class.”
‘Rested’ India skipper Rohit says not retiring from Test cricket
https://arab.news/2rrqb
‘Rested’ India skipper Rohit says not retiring from Test cricket
- The acclaimed opener has had a poor series, with critics suggesting his omission from Tests
- ‘This decision is not a retirement decision nor am I going to step aside,’ Rohit Sharma says
Mid East Falcons secure United Series spot after victory over Arabia Wolves
- Abu Dhabi franchise’s 8-2 win secures place in season-ending series against Mumbai Cobras
DUBAI: Jake Hjelle went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs, and Kazuki Yabuta pitched 5.2 innings, allowing only two hits and two runs, to lead the Mid East Falcons to an 8-2 win over Arabia Wolves at Baseball United Ballpark on Saturday.
The win secured a top two finish in the Baseball United Season 1 standings for the Abu Dhabi franchise, and with that a place in the United Series against Mumbai Cobras.
Hiroyuki Nakajima went 1-for-2 with one run scored and two RBIs, while Gregori Cano batted 1-for-2 with one RBI and Alejandro de Aza went 1-for-2 with two runs scored and one RBI, to highlight Mid East’s offense in Game 2 of a doubleheader.
Kazuki Yabuta earned the victory after 5.2 innings, in which he allowed two hits, two earned runs, six walks and one strikeout. Kodai Hamaya (0.2 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 2 BB) and Severino Gonzalez (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER) completed the pitching line for Falcons.
This result means the Falcons will face the Cobras in the fight for the Baseball United championship when they meet in the United Series starting on Dec. 12; it will be a best-of-three series to be played at Baseball United Ballpark.
Other highlights
- Jacinto Cipriota, the standout man in the Wolves offense, was 1-for-3 with one RBI.
- Akeem Bostick took the loss, after 2.1 IP in which he allowed one hit, three earned runs and one walk.
- Wolves conceded 17 runs in this double header, with only 7 runs scored.
- Wolves now have a 4-4 record. They will hope to finish the regular season above .500 after Sunday’s game.
