5th Test: Stepped Aside for Team's Best Interest, Reveals Rohit

India captain Rohit Sharma cleared all speculation regarding him not playing the ongoing Sydney Test against Australia, saying he chose "stand down" from the match purely because his batting form hasn’t been good and that it was in the best interest of the team to have more in-form players.

He also termed his decision as tough but sensible. Rohit had scored only 6.2 with the bat in three games, and he decided not to play the match, and Jasprit Bumrah led the Indian team at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Rohit also said that he was the one who informed head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar about this decision to head home.

"Neither of them (rested, opted out and dropped). I stood down from this Test – if I say a word, there are more than 50 words to describe it. The conversation I had with the coach, Gautam Gambhir, and selector, Ajit Agarkar, was a very straightforward that I was unable to score runs for the team through the bat and I am just not in the form," stated Rohit speaking in a rather candid chat he had with sports broadcasters Star Sports during lunch time on day two's play.

"That was an important match, we needed a win. We couldn't carry many out-of-form players, especially with many not being in great form with the bat. It was a simple thing that was going on in my mind – I told them about it and they backed my decision by saying 'You have been playing for so many years and you are the best person in doing what has to be done'.

For me, it was a tough call for me to take, but it was a practical one given all circumstances and what would be in the best interest of the team. The decision was taken after coming here in Sydney.

After Melbourne, there were just a few days and one of them was New Year's Day," said Rohit.

On that day, I did not want to tell the coach and selector about this. But this thought had been running in my mind for some time - like I was trying but could not score. I had to accept it, as it was important for me to step aside from this match," the India captain added.

Rohit also cleared the air over speculation of him quitting Test cricket after the Sydney Test by saying that his choosing to sit out of the game does not mean he will be retiring from the format anytime soon. He even came over to chat with the team during a drinks break in the first session.

"This decision is not a retirement decision, nor am I going to take myself out of the game. I sat out of this match because runs are not coming off my bat. There is no guarantee that runs won't come two or five months down the line. I have seen a lot in cricket that life changes every second, every minute, every day."

"I have confidence in myself that things can change, but at the same time I have to be realistic as well. So life won't change based on what people with a mic, pen, or laptop write or say. They can't decide when we should retire when we should sit out, when we should captain," he added.

"Sensible aadmi hoon, mature aadmi hoon, do bachhon ka baap hoon, mere paas thoda sa dimaag hai, aur ptaa hai life mei kya chahiye! (I am a sensible man, mature man, father of two kids. So I have some brain and I know what I need in life)."

When asked if the Indian dressing room is affected by the media reports about disturbances in the dressing room in the build-up to the Sydney Test, Rohit said, "All players here are made of steel, and this is our effort to make these boys like this. It's because that things which are out of control, nothing is gained by wasting time on it or thinking about what has been said out."

"All the boys know what's happening on the outside, so what can we do about it? We focus on how we need to play our game, make ourselves better and win games," said Rohit after the interview ended. Rohit signed off with a typical north Indian drawl saying, "Main kahin ja nahin raha. Idhar hi hoon (I am not going anywhere, I will be staying here)," he added.