IND vs AUS: Rohit Sharma to miss Perth Test, Jasprit Bumrah to captain side
Rohit, who was blessed with a second child last week, did not travel with the remaining side that played an intra-squad match at the WACA.
Published : Nov 17, 2024 17:02 IST , CHENNAI - 2 MINS READ
India’s captain Rohit Sharma in action against New Zealand. | Photo Credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI/The Hindu
Jasprit Bumrah will lead India in a Test match for the second time after captain Rohit Sharma pulled out of the series-opener of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, starting in Perth on Saturday.
Rohit is understood to have, on Sunday, conveyed to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the team management and the national selection panel about his inability to join the squad in Perth. The India captain had stayed back in Mumbai for the birth of his second child. Ever since Rohit’s wife, Ritika, delivered a baby boy on Friday, rumour mills were abuzz on Rohit likely to travel to Perth in time for the opening Test against Australia.
However, Rohit quelled all the doubts on Sunday, preferring to spend additional time with the family. Sportstar understands that Rohit will join the squad in Adelaide, ahead of the two-day warm-up game under the lights at the end of the month and will be raring to go for the second Test match.
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Rohit’s absence will mean Bumrah – who led once in England in 2022 – will wear the captain’s jacket while walking out for the toss on Friday. In anticipation of Rohit’s likely absence for the Perth Test, the national selection committee had reappointed Bumrah as the vice-captain for the home series against New Zealand.
Rohit’s absence will also mean Yashasvi Jaiswal – playing Down Under for the first time – will have a new opening partner for the first time in his career. Ever since Jaiswal’s debut in the West Indies in July 2023, he and Rohit have opened India’s innings for 14 Test matches in succession.
K.L. Rahul, who proved his fitness by batting for an hour during India’s last day of centre-wicket simulation at the WACA stadium on Sunday, is likely to be Jaiswal’s opening partner. It will be interesting to see whether Dhruv Jurel is preferred at No. 3 as a specialist batter, in place of injured Shubman Gill.
The BCCI is yet to officially confirm Gill and Rohit’s unavailability for the Perth Test.