“There’s no clarity, there’s only confusion”: Bharat Sundaresan discusses the Rohit Sharma drama

The bombshell report that Indian captain Rohit Sharma was opting out of the series-deciding final test at the SCG sent major shockwaves throughout the cricketing world.

Sharma has produced scores of 3, 6, 10, 3 and 9 in this series, well below the 37-year-old's career average of 40.57.

Throughout the circus that was India’s training session yesterday, SEN’s own Bharat Sundaresan was reminded of how difficult it is being in the media trying to access the Indian team.

“It was a reminder on how difficult it is being an Indian cricket journalist,” Sundaresan said on The New Ball.

“There's no clarity, there’s only confusion.”

The Indian stalwart looked out of place throughout the training session and was notably absent from slips catching, which was the first giveaway that something was brewing.

“Rohit was no longer part of the slip cordon; that was the first giveaway," Sundaresan said.

Sharma did not participate in the team net session; instead, he was at the back of the nets with a big jumper on, laughing with his teammates.

Strangely, shortly after the main net session, Sharma went in to face some throwdowns in what was described as one of those most bizarre net sessions.

“He has one of the most bizarre short net sessions I’ve ever seen a senior batter have,” Sundaresan said.

“There was no intensity in it; a couple of times, he just left straight balls that knocked his off stump off.”

The decision to drop a captain before the final test of a series that is still yet to be won is an almost unprecedented decision and one that will be criticised if India’s top order fails again.

“It is a huge bombshell, and it just sums up the confusion in Indian cricket.”

Sundaresan noted the wording of ‘opted out’ was extremely vague and considering Sharma’s form and current stage of the series, there is likely more to it.

“It’s either Rohit dropped himself or Indian team management has rested him.”

At 37 years of age, have we seen the last game of Rohit Sharma’s illustrious test career?

The fifth test of the Border Gavaskar series starts today at the SCG.

Listen to it live on the SEN app.