"No idea about what kind of talks are going on in their camps"- Rohit Sharma on potential rift within Australian side ahead of 2nd BGT 2024-25 Test
Team India skipper Rohit Sharma offered no comments on the potential rifts within the Australian camp ahead of the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test, starting in Adelaide on December 6. While Rohit missed the first Test due to the birth of his second child, India thumped Australia by a massive 295 runs to take a 1-0 lead in Perth.
The major talking point, however, post-game was pacer Josh Hazlewood's remarks about the Australian batters after Day 3. With the hosts chasing an improbable 534 and being 15/3 heading into Day 4, Hazlewood was asked about the side's plan for the rest of the run-chase.
Yet, the veteran pacer responded indifferently, saying the question should be posed to the batters. Following this, several former players and experts suggested a possible division within the Australian camp.
"You probably have to ask one of the batters that question... I’m probably looking mostly towards the next Test," Hazlewood told reporters via India Today.
Reacting to the same in the press conference on the eve of the second Test, Rohit was quoted by News18 as saying:
"I have no idea about all this, to be honest. I am completely out of all those external things that happen. I don’t know what to say. Whatever is happening is happening, I guess. How can I tell anything? I don’t know what I can say about it since I have no idea about what kind of talks are going on in their camps. But clearly, there is a superb environment here (within the Indian team), which we want to enjoy."
Meanwhile, Hazlewood has been ruled out of the second Test with a side strain and Scott Boland will replace him in Australia's playing XI.
"Some of the commentators got it a hundred percent wrong" - Pat Cummins
Australian skipper Pat Cummins dismissed any possible rift within the side and blamed the commentators for trying to create headlines using Josh Hazlewood's remarks.
The Aussie batters struggled in both innings of the opening Test with scores of 104 and 238, while the bowlers were ineffective in the second innings as India declared on 487/6.
Addressing the recent rumors around possible divisions within the side at the pre-game press conference, Cummins said as quoted by India Today:
"The team's great. Some of the commentators got it a hundred per cent wrong. We prepared like we always do. It's a great feeling around the team. When things don't go right, there are enough commentators who will support you but some that will try and create headlines. We try not to notice those things. We try to concentrate our focus on how we prepare, give ourselves the best chance to win the games."
Australia have now lost three of their last four Tests against India at home, dating back to the 2020-21 series.