Rohit Sharma And Three Other Captains Who Opted To Drop Themselves From Playing XI

Rohit Sharma's individual form has been disappointing in Tests, managing just 164 runs in eight Tests since September, with only a single half-century to his name.

Rohit Sharma's decision to "rest" for the fifth and final Test of IND vs AUS Border-Gavaskar series seemed almost inevitable, given his recent struggles with the bat and as a captain in Test cricket.

The 37-year-old's underwhelming performance in the home series against New Zealand, which saw India suffer a rare 0-3 defeat, raised concerns.

Under Rohit Sharma's leadership, India has won only one match in the ongoing five-match series against Australia, and with their chances of qualifying for World Test Championship (WTC) Final now slim, IND vs AUS 5th Test could be one of their final opportunities in the current cycle.

Rohit's individual form has been disappointing as well, managing just 164 runs in eight Tests since September, with only a single half-century to his name.

Meanwhile, let's have a look at the list of prominent captains who dropped themselves from playing XI in international cricket.

Rohit Sharma: Rohit Sharma's poor form in the ongoing IND vs AUS Border-Gavaskar Trophy, having scored only 31 runs in five innings, is reportedly the key factor behind his decision to drop himself from the playing XI. This move opens the door for Shubman Gill to return to the team.

Misbah-ul-Haq: During Pakistan's tour of Australia in 2014, Misbah-ul-Haq faced heavy criticism for his underwhelming performances, managing just 0 and 15 in the first two ODIs. As a result, he chose to drop himself from the XI for the third and final ODI. In his absence, Shahid Afridi took over as captain, but Pakistan still succumbed to defeat against Australia in that match.

Dinesh Chandimal: Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal made a bold decision during 2014 T20 World Cup, opting to sit out the knockout matches to benefit the team. This selfless move proved an absolute game-changer, as stand-in captain Lasith Malinga led Sri Lanka to historic victory, defeating India in the final.

Mike Denness: During the 1974-75 Ashes series in Australia, England captain Mike Denness dropped himself for the fourth Test after heavy defeats in the first two matches and a draw in the third. Tony Greig stepped in as captain for the fourth Test, but England still suffered a loss. Denness returned to lead the side in the fifth Test, where England finally secured a win.