Rohit Sharma came for an interview during the lunch break on day 2 of the fifth Test at Sydney and cleared doubts regarding his absence at Sydney. The first thing he cleared was that he stood out. None of the narratives of opting out or getting rested is true. Irfan Pathan and Jatin Sapru attended Rohit Sharma for the interview, where Rohit said, "Not any of these three (rested, opted out, and dropped). I stood down. That is what I would say. Look, if I would say something, but it can be interpreted in 50 different ways. Basically, the chat that I had with the coach and the selector was very simple: I am not scoring runs, I am not in form, it’s an important match, anyways the batting unit is struggling a bit. So, you can’t carry a lot of out-of-form players in the team. It was as simple as this and it was going in my mind." Team first, always! 🇮🇳📹 EXCLUSIVE: @ImRo45 sets the record straight on his selfless gesture during the SCG Test. Watch his full interview at 12:30 PM only on Cricket Live! #AUSvINDOnStar 👉 5th Test, Day 2 | LIVE NOW | #BorderGavaskarTrophy #ToughestRivalry #RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/uyQjHftg8u — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 4, 2025 Read also: Jasprit Bumrah leaves SCG due to back pain Not going anywhere: Rohit There were a lot of rumours going around regarding Rohit Sharma's retirement, calling Melbourne his last Test. However, Rohit Sharma downplayed every claim, reminding of the uncertainity of the sport. He sounded hopeful at the same time, hoping to get runs three or five months after the slump. He added, "I am confident things will change. At the same time, I have to be realistic as well. At the same time, some person is sitting with a mic, laptop, or pen and writing stuff; our lives do not change because of what that person is writing or saying." Rohit Sharma also dismissed concerns about dressing room leaks, emphasizing the importance of selfless leadership, where the team always takes precedence over individual goals. Praising Jasprit Bumrah's rise as a player and leader, he said that Bumrah earned it, and no player will be granted this serving on a plate. Unfazed by criticism, Rohit remains steadfast in his approach, believing in his methods and staying focused on India's goals, particularly denying their rivals the series trophy. While leaving Sapru looked to thank Rohit Sharma for his service and also time for the interview, to which Rohit Sharma jokingly replied, "I am not going anywhere."