Rohit Sharma, who had been under fire for his miserable run as batter as well as captain in recent months, had “opted out” of the fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney, leading many to believe the ‘Hitman’ made his final appearance in whites in Melbourne.

The captain of the Indian cricket team is sitting out of a crucial Test match for the first time ever in the middle of an ongoing series as defeats in Australia beckon generational change in the country’s most popular and richest sport.

Rohit Sharma dismissed the retirement talks and confirmed that he will continue to be India's captain. His decision to step aside was only for the Sydney Test.