File image of Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma at a practice session before India’s final Test against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium. (Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)
India captain Rohit Sharma won’t play in the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test between Australia and India in Perth starting Friday as he has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India that he needed more time with his wife after the birth of their second child earlier this week. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, the vice-captain of the team, will take over the reins in Rohit’s absence. Rohit is set to play the second match, a pink-ball Test, that begins in Adelaide on December 6.
Because of Rohit’s absence, the selectors have told Devdutt Paddikal, who was touring with the India A squad, to stay back in Australia. Paddikal will be added to the 18-member squad in Rohit’s place for the first Test match at the Opus Stadium in Perth.
“We were hoping that he (Rohit) will travel but he has informed the BCCI that he can’t go now as he needs some more time. He will be flying to Australia for the pink-ball Test match, the second match, in Adelaide. There is a nine-day gap between the first and second Test matches, so Rohit will be able to be there on time,” a BCCI official confirmed.
The senior selection committee was hopeful of Rohit, the captain, travelling to Australia for the first Test of what is going to be a long summer with matches in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. With the team suffering a 0-3 whitewash at home at the hands of New Zealand, the Test tour of Australia will be a litmus test for the side coming off a bad run of form and collective batting failure.
KL Rahul set to play
India’s batting line-up will definitely see changes after Shubman Gill fractured his thumb while fielding during match simulation on Saturday. Gill will miss the first Test, opening a path for KL Rahul to make it to the playing XI. In Rohit’s absence, Dhruv Jurel, the wicket-keeper, may get a look in purely as a batsman. Jurel made 80 and 64 in a tour game against Australia A and looked the most assured batsman at the crease.
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