“If there is no captain in the beginning, it is better to make someone else”- Sunil Gavaskar on reports of Rohit Sharma missing 1st BGT 2024-25 Test
Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar has weighed in on the uncertainty surrounding captain Rohit Sharma's availability for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He suggested that the selectors should name a new captain for the entire series.
Reports indicate that the 37-year-old will miss the first match due to personal reasons. Gavaskar said that if Rohit is unavailable for two-thirds of the games, he should join the team later only as a player.
In a discussion with Sports Tak, Gavaskar said:
"It is important for the captain to play the first Test. If he gets injured then it is a different matter. In such a situation, if your leader is not available in the first match, then appointing a deputy leader, the pressure that builds on him is a different kind of pressure. It will not be easy for him to take the responsibility of captaincy again."
He added:
"We have been reading that Rohit Sharma will not play in the first Test, perhaps he will not play in the second as well.”
"If this is the case then I say that right now the Indian selection committee should say that you have to rest, rest, if there are personal reasons then look at them. But if you are missing two-thirds of the matches then you should go for this tour only as a player. We will make the vice-captain the captain of this tour.
"Because there should be clarity. It is the responsibility of the captain because when we lost 3-0 here, it is important to have a captain. Absolutely necessary,” he continued.
The 75-year-old emphasized the importance of having a captain to bring the players together following the humiliating whitewash against New Zealand, saying:
"Indian cricket is the most important. I would say that if we had won the New Zealand series 3-0, it would have been a different matter. Because we have lost this series 3-0, there is a need for a captain. The captain has to unite the team. If there is no captain in the beginning, it is better to make someone else the captain" Gavaskar added.
The Rohit Sharma-led side suffered a 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand earlier this month. It was India's firs-ever whitewash in a home Test series with at least three matches.
“Fingers crossed” - Rohit Sharma regarding his availability for 1st Test of the BGT 2024-25
During the press conference on November 3, following the series against New Zealand, Rohit Sharma indicated that he might miss the first match of the BGT 2024-25. He said:
"Right now, I am not too sure whether I'll be going, but let's see. Fingers crossed.”
Rohit had a rough outing in the three-match series against the Kiwis, managing only 91 runs over six innings. In the meantime, the five-match Test series between India and Australia is scheduled to start on November 22 in Perth.