Former Team India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has urged Rohit Sharma not to run away from the situation as his place gets doubtful for the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney. Pathan opined that he wishes to see Rohit fight through his struggles to score runs to help India win the match.
With the 37-year-old struggling with the bat in the three Tests played in Australia, averaging 6.20, his place is no longer a certainty as coach Gautam Gambhir remained coy during the press conference. Should he miss the Sydney Test, it could also be the end of his red-ball career with India.
Speaking on Star Sports, here's what Pathan stated:
"Aap bilkul bhi yeh situation se na bhaagiye mat. Zaroor aapka balla nahin chal raha. Hum bhi keh rahe hain nahin chal raha. Sab maan rahe hain aap bhi maan rahe hain. Lekin aap ladaai kariye, aapne bahut run banaaye hain. Main dekhna chahunga Rohit Sharma is situation mein dekhna chahunga, aake ladaai karein. Us daur se bahar nikalne ki koshish karein. Yeh meri personal khwahish hai. Maine jo baat kahi ki unka form sahin nahin hai, yeh baat bhi sahin hai. Lekin main yeh bhi chahta hoon, Rohit Sharma ladai kare. Aaye, run banaaye, aur Team India ko jitaaye."
(Rohit Sharma, please don't run away from the situation. Your bat isn't producing the runs and everyone knows it, you know it. But I want to see Rohit in this situation and want to see him fight through it. I know his form is not good but I also want to see Rohit fight through it, score runs and make India win)
Australia make one change to their playing XI
Australia, meanwhile, have made one change to their playing eleven by dropping Mitchell Marsh to draft a like-for-like replacement in Baeu Webster. Mitchell Starc has held on to his spot despite a sore side and back.
Australia playing XI: Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.
