(Image source from: AFP)

Rohit Sharma's decision to take part in the Sydney Test should not be taken as a decision to retire. He believes that "things can change" and that "people with microphones, pens and laptops cannot decide when to retire." Rohit's Test future came under scrutiny after India won the fourth Frontier-Gavaskar Test in Melbourne. He was reacting to Indian media reports. "This decision is not a resignation decision," he said during the lunch break on the second day of the Sydney Test, in which Jasprit Bumrah will be India's captain. "I won't withdraw from the game again." I lost that game because I didn't score a goal. There's no guarantee it won't happen in five or two months. I have seen so many things in cricket that life changes every second, every minute and every day. I'm sure things can change, but at the same time we have to be realistic. They can't decide when to change, when to retire, when to rest, when to become captain. I am a wise man, I am a grown man, I have two children, I know what I need in life? "

India's Test and ODI captain Rohit was absent during the start of the Test series during his paternity leave. After joining the team midway through the series opener in Perth, which India won by 295 runs, Rohit played in the middle order in the Adelaide and Brisbane Tests, keeping pace with top-ranked batsman KL Rahul. Last week in Melbourne, Rohit returned as the opening batsman along with Yashaswi Jaiswal, Rahul took the third spot and Shubman Gayle dropped a place to the 11th spot. But two defeats and defeats on a dramatic final day led to talk of his place in the starting line-up. A day after the final Test, Rohit did not hold his usual pre-match press conference and head coach Gautam Gambhir dodged questions about Rohit's presence by saying he would call him after seeing the pitch. “I took this decision after coming here (to Sydney),” Rohit said. There were only two days between the games and I didn't want to have these conversations with the coaches and selectors in the new year, but I had in my mind that I would do my best and still not score a goal and not get out of the situation.

The conversation with the coach and the selectors was very simple: My racket isn't scoring, I'm not in good shape, it's an important game and we need players in good shape. I had a simple thought in my head: the guys were not feeling well, so I couldn't accept a player who wasn't feeling well, so I knew what was going on in my head. They said that you play for years so the best judge you can do is what you do and in the 2012/13 home season they lost 3-0 to India. That was a smart decision.""I don't think too much. What does the team need now? I thought so. There is nothing else.”