"India needs his leadership" - Sourav Ganguly hopes to see Rohit Sharma play in Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 1st Test

Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly hopes to see Rohit Sharma feature in the opening Test against Australia, beginning on November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The former left-handed batter reckons the tourists would need Rohit's leadership for the Border-Gavaskar series Down Under.

On Saturday, a report emerged from The Times of India that the 37-year-old has rendered himself unavailable for the opening Test. With Rohit's wife giving birth to their second child, a source from TOI revealed that the veteran batter wishes to spend more time with this family and that the BCCI respects his decision to do so.

Speaking to RevSportz, Ganguly labeled Rohit a 'fantastic' captain and remarked:

"I hope Rohit Sharma goes very soon, because the team needs leadership. I believe his wife has delivered a baby boy yesterday night so I am sure he can leave. He can leave as early as possible and if I was in his position, he should be playing the Perth Test. The match is a week away. Because it is a big series, he will not go to Australia after this, he is a fantastic captain. India needs his leadership to start with."

The veteran batter's leadership has come under scrutiny after Team India's crushing 3-0 series loss to New Zealand at home recently. Rohit's form was also woeful throughout the series, as he managed only 91 runs in six innings with one half-century.

"He wasn't because he was captaining the other formats" - Sourav Ganguly reveals Rohit Sharma wasn't open to leading in Tests

Ganguly also took pride in supporting Rohit as Test captain. He said in the same interview:

"He wasn't because he was captaining the other formats. So, it was a lot of workload. I don't believe in workload. Test captain of India is going to be Test captain. I told him that don't finish your career not being Test captain, I am not surprised to see what he has achieved."

Team India have won the last four Test series against Australia, including two away series.