India head coach Gautam Gambhir remained non-committal on captain Rohit Sharma's inclusion in the playing XI for the final Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. With Australia leading the series 2-1, India faces pressure after losing two of the three Tests, despite a record win in the opener at Perth under pacer Jasprit Bumrah's captaincy.

Rohit’s form and leadership have come under scrutiny, as India suffered a crushing 3-0 defeat at home to New Zealand before this series. Rohit has now gone six consecutive Tests without a win. His struggles extend to batting, with a season tally of just 164 runs in 15 innings across three series, averaging a mere 10.93. On the ongoing Australian tour, he managed only 31 runs, including one double-digit score, setting a record for the lowest batting average (6.20) by a touring captain in an Australian Test series (minimum five innings).

Gambhir addressed the media instead of Rohit, breaking the tradition of captains attending pre-match press conferences. When asked about Rohit's absence, Gambhir reassured that “everything is fine” and stated the head coach’s presence at the press conference “should be good enough.” He emphasized that the final XI would be decided after inspecting the wicket.

Pressed further, Gambhir reiterated the same response, refusing to provide clarity on Rohit’s inclusion. The situation has fueled speculation about Rohit’s place in the team and his ability to lead India through a crucial encounter in the series decider.