Gambhir refuses to confirm Rohit Sharma selection for deciding Test

India Test head coach Gautam Gambhir did not confirm Rohit Sharma's selection for the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test match at the SCG during a press conference media expected the captain to attend.

The India coach remained coy while speaking to reporters on the eve of the final Test match, with Sharma struggling with the bat and his side down 2-1 in the five-match series.

As part of responsibilties that come with leadership, the team captain normally appears for the pre-match press conference, however coach Gambhir showed up alone.

"Everything is fine with Rohit and I don't think it's anything traditional (fronting up for the pre-match presser)," Gambhir said.

"The head coach is here and that should be good enough.

"We are going to have a look at the wicket and finalise it tomorrow."

When quizzed again by a reporter on whether Sharma would play in the Sydney Test, Gambhir continued: “I just said that we’re going to have a look at the wicket and announce a playing XI tomorrow. The answer remains the same.”

The regular skipper was not a member of the side to win the first Test match of the series in Perth, and since returning to the team from the second Test onwards, Sharma has made 31 runs at an average of just 6.20.

While bowing out as a winning captain at the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, and with likely further white-ball aspirations at the upcoming Champions Trophy, Test retirement rumours off the back of poor red-ball form have swirled in Sydney.

India must win the Sydney Test match to keep their slim World Test Championship Final hopes alive, and would also need Australia to not win either of their two Test matches in Sri Lanka to lock in their spot at Lord's in June.

Gambhir did reveal Akash Deep will miss the Test with a back injury, though did not name a replacement.

Sharma did partake in a nets session as part of India's scheduled pre-match practice.

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