Gambhir evasive on Rohit Sharma’s inclusion for final Australia Test

India's head coach Gautam Gambhir has remained tight-lipped about Rohit Sharma's place in the team for the decisive fifth Test against Australia.

The match, set to begin on 3 January in Sydney, comes with mounting scrutiny over Sharma's form and India's hopes of retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Sharma, the embattled Indian skipper, has struggled throughout the series, failing to score more than 10 runs in any of his five innings in Australia.

Speculation is rife that his position in the playing XI could be under threat. However, Gambhir refused to clarify Sharma's fate during the pre-match press conference, where the captain's absence was also noticeable.

"Everything is fine with Rohit, and I don't think it's anything out of the ordinary," Gambhir said, addressing Sharma's no-show at the traditional media briefing. "The head coach is here, and that should suffice. We will assess the pitch and finalise the team tomorrow."

Pressed further on whether Sharma would feature in the team, Gambhir maintained his stance, adding, "The answer remains the same."

India are set to make at least one change following their 184-run defeat in the fourth Test at Melbourne. Fast bowler Akash Deep has been ruled out with a back injury, paving the way for either Harshit Rana or Prasidh Krishna to make an appearance in Sydney.

Sharma's captaincy has been under increasing scrutiny, especially after missing the first Test in Perth for the birth of his second child. Stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah led India to their sole victory of the series in that match.

Pressure is also mounting on Virat Kohli, whose lone century in Perth has been overshadowed by a string of low scores. In contrast, younger players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Kumar Reddy have impressed with their performances, prompting questions about the future composition of the team.

Gambhir, however, dismissed suggestions of sidelining senior players in favour of youth. "It's not about phasing out senior players or bringing in younger ones. Ultimately, the only thing that keeps you in the dressing room is performance," he said.

Australia currently lead the series 2-1, leaving India with a must-win scenario in Sydney to retain the trophy. Despite the odds, Gambhir expressed confidence in his team.

"We are extremely confident," he asserted. "We have the skill sets, the individuals, and everything in the dressing room to win a Test match here—not just here, but to achieve remarkable things in the future as well."