Good news for the India National Cricket Team: Captain Rohit Sharma is expected to play in the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia.
A recent report suggests that Rohit Sharma is likely to travel to Australia before the first Test in Perth.
Rohit Sharma’s Availability For BGT 2024-25 First Test Boosts India’s Hopes
The India National Cricket Team traveled to Australia in two groups for the five-match Test series, but Rohit Sharma was not part of either batch. He stayed in Mumbai to be with his wife, Ritika Sajdeh, as they are expecting their second child soon.
Meanwhile, the other Indian players have arrived in Australia and begun their practice sessions at the Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) ground in Perth.
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Although not with the team, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has stayed focused on his game. He has been training at the Reliance Corporate Park (RCP) and also using the facilities at the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for his practice sessions.
On Thursday, November 14, India Today reported that the chances of Rohit Sharma being available for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener are “looking better by the day.”
This is because Rohit’s second child is expected to be born before the first Test, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has started making arrangements to ensure he reaches Australia on time once his child is born.
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Gautam Gambhir Confirms Bumrah as Stand-In Captain If Rohit Misses Out
For the same reason, India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, did not rule out the possibility of Rohit playing in the first Test. He remains hopeful that the skipper will join the team in time for the series.
If Rohit Sharma misses out on the opening Test, India head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah would lead the team in Australia.
To replace Rohit as an opener in the playing XI, Gambhir mentioned two options: Abhimanyu Easwaran and KL Rahul. However, both players struggled in the unofficial Tests against Australia A, which could be a concern for the Indian team management.
Easwaran, the domestic cricket star, scored just 0 & 17 and 7 & 12 in two matches, while KL Rahul managed only 4 & 10 in his one match.
As for Rohit, he hasn’t been in great form recently either. In the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, he scored just 42 runs at an average of 10.50. In the three-match series against New Zealand, he managed only 91 runs at an average of 15.16.
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