Rohit Sharma’s Absence Looms Large as India Aims to Retain Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
As the Indian cricket team gears up for the highly anticipated five-match Test series against Australia, the potential absence of captain Rohit Sharma in the opening match has emerged as a significant concern.
According to reports, Rohit is likely to miss the first Test in Perth, which is scheduled to begin on November 22, due to the birth of his second child. This development comes at a crucial juncture, as the Indian team looks to retain the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The Indian cricket team’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has backed the “incredibly tough men” Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to bounce back from their recent poor form and prove their critics wrong during the upcoming tour.
During the home Test series against New Zealand, which India lost 3-0, Rohit managed to score just 91 runs in three matches, while Kohli managed a mere 93 runs. This humiliating defeat at home was India’s first such loss against the Kiwis.
Gambhir, who replaced Rahul Dravid as the team’s head coach in July, has dismissed concerns about the team’s ability to qualify for the World Test Championship final, stating that the focus will be solely on winning the series in Australia.
The coach has also hit out at former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who had questioned the long-term form of Rohit and Kohli. Gambhir defended the two senior batsmen, stating, “What does Ponting have to do with Indian cricket?”
Gambhir believes the team’s experience of touring Australia will be crucial, and he is confident that if the players perform to their potential, they can beat any team on any surface. However, the absence of the injured Mohammed Shami will increase the workload on pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who will captain the team if Rohit is unavailable.
In Rohit’s possible absence, the team management will have to choose between Abhimanyu Easwaran and KL Rahul as the opening partner for Shubman Gill. Gambhir hinted that Rahul’s 53-Test experience and his versatility to bat at different positions could give him the edge over the uncapped Easwaran.
