After reports of Rohit Sharma’s exit from the fifth Test against England in Birmingham surfaced, head coach Rahul Dravid said he still hoped to have the captain available. Rohit was found corona positive on 25 June. They need a negative RT-PCR test to be available for selection. However, Aakash Chopra feels that even if this happens, Hitman will not be able to play the Edgbaston Test.
If Rohit Sharma does not play then Jasprit Bumrah will lead the team. At the same time, Cheteshwar Pujara or Fur Mayank Agarwal can play as an opener. If Rohit’s report comes negative, it will indeed be good news for the Indian team, but Aakash Chopra does not think he will have the strength to play in the Test starting July 01.
Chopra said, “I don’t think you will see Rohit Sharma play because I was positive two or three months back at the start of the IPL. You have no strength left. Negative or positive, you have to have the ability to play. Corona breaks you a little from inside in so many days. This is another problem. So I think Rohit Sharma won’t play, whatever Rahul Dravid says and Jasprit Bumrah will captain.”
In the press conference, Rahul Dravid said on Wednesday that Rohit is not yet completely out of the Birmingham Test. The final decision on whether he will play or not will be made shortly before the start of the match on Friday. Rohit was one of the leading run-getters for India in the four Tests against England on tour last year. His absence will definitely be a big blow to Team India.
KL Rahul has previously been ruled out of the tour due to injury. He too did a great job on the tour last year. In such a situation, the biggest question is who will open with Shubman Gill. Apart from this, there will be a lot of blame on former India captain Virat Kohli, who has not scored a century since the year 2019.