Gambhir: Will Assess Wicket and Finalize Rohit's Selection for Sydney Test Tomorrow

India head coach Gautam Gambhir said skipper Rohit Sharma's place for the final Test match of Border-Gavaskar Trophy to be played on Friday at Sydney Cricket Ground isn't confirmed; the under-pressure skipper will have a looking glance at his pitch on the given match day as the place within the playing eleven would be sealed after it.

Rohit is finding the bat far from his left hand and his side is 2-1 down in the five-match series. The regular skipper was not part of India's win in Perth due to the birth of his second child and since returning to the team from the second Test onwards, he has made mere 31 runs at an average of just 6.20.

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

When again asked whether Rohit, who partake in a nets session as part of India's scheduled pre-match practice, would play in the Sydney Test, Gambhir said, “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.”

Gambhir said however that fast bowler Akash Deep will not play in the fifth Test due to a back injury, but he did not name a replacement for the injured player.

"Akash Deep is out because he got a back issue. That's the only injury concern," Gambhir said.

Australia, which leads the series 2-1, will look to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney with a rejuvenated lineup, while India will look to retain the series.

To keep slim hopes of their World Test Championship final, India needs to win the Sydney Test match. It would also need Australia not to win either of their two Test matches in Sri Lanka, thus netting a place for an endgame at the summit clash in June at Lord's.

The fifth and final Test starts at Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.