Rohit Sharma rested for India A opener in New Zealand
The batsman will now fly directly to Australia on Friday.
Published : Nov 13, 2018 20:01 IST
Rohit Sharma, who was named in the India A squad for the first four-day match against New Zealand A — which begins on Friday — has been advised rest by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s medical team in consultation with the team management and the All-India senior selection committee.
According to a media release issued by the BCCI, the decision was taken keeping in mind his recent workload.
Rohit was picked for the four-day game alongside senior players, Ajinkya Rahane, Murali Vijay, Hanuma Vihari, Parthiv Patel and young Prithvi Shaw, who are all part of the India squad for the four-Test series in Australia.
The other day, India A coach, Rahul Dravid, had even pointed out that the tour to New Zealand will help the senior players do better in Australia. But unlike the other Australia-bound players present in New Zealand, Rohit captained India in the ODI and T20 series against the Windies in the absence of Virat Kohli, who too was rested ahead of the important assignment Down Under.
Rohit will now have only one red-ball practice game ahead of the first Test beginning December 6 at Adelaide. Before that, he will play the three-match Twenty20 series, starting November 21 at The Gabba.
He will travel with India’s T20 squad, which leaves for Australia from Mumbai on Friday.
India A squad for 1st four-day game against New Zealand A: Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), M Vijay, Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Parthiv Patel (wicket-keeper), K Gowtham, Shahbaz Nadeem, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Deepak Chahar, Rajneesh Gurbani, Vijay Shankar, KS Bharat (wicket-keeper).