"There is a strong possibility Rohit Sharma might be seen playing in the first Test match" - Aakash Chopra on Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 1st Test
Aakash Chopra expects Rohit Sharma to be available for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 after the birth of his second child. He pointed out that there is almost a week left before the start of the series opener.
Rohit's availability for the first Test starting in Perth on Friday, November 22, was unclear due to the impending birth of his second child. The Indian skipper was recently blessed with a boy. However, reports suggest that the opener will only be available for the second Test as he wants to spend some time with his family.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener congratulated Rohit and his wife and opined that he should be available for the first Test.
"Rohit and Ritika are blessed with a baby boy. Congratulations to Rohit and Ritika. Since the baby is born and there is a week's gap in between, the Test match will start on the 22nd, there is a strong possibility Rohit Sharma might be seen playing in the first Test match, and I will say thumbs up," he said (1:10).
Chopra noted that Abhimanyu Easwaran, Rohit's potential replacement as an opener, hasn't been among the runs in the few hits he has had in Australia thus far.
"Abhimanyu Easwaran was among the options kept for him thus far. It seems like he is not even an option right now based on the reports from Australia. They were practicing in Perth and they played a few games, and he has not scored the runs," he observed.
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that KL Rahul and Shubman Gill have also suffered recent injuries and could potentially miss the first Test.
"KL Rahul also got injured. Prasidh Krishna's ball hit him on his elbow and he didn't take part in that session again. Shubman Gill has also now gotten injured. He was doing catch practice and got hurt on his finger and they are saying that it is apparently fractured," Chopra noted.
"If he has a fractured finger, it takes at least two weeks, and at times it takes three as well. If it takes three weeks, there will be a doubt about the second Test match as well. It means he is also out of the first Test match. In such a scenario, if Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul aren't there, why are we playing at all? (Mohammed) Shami is also not there. This is not right," he added.
Reports suggest that Gill suffered a fracture in his finger while taking a catch in the slips and is ruled out of the first Test. However, Rahul, who suffered a blow to his elbow on the first day of the match simulation, returned for practice on Day 3 and will likely be available for the first Test.
"Please go and play in Perth" - Aakash Chopra to Rohit Sharma
![Rohit Sharma does not have a great record in Tests in Australia. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/2babc-17318152166348-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra urged Rohit Sharma to be available for the first Test against Australia.
"So Rohit Sharma, firstly congratulations on the new addition to your family. We are very happy for it. Now please go and play in Perth. Another thing is that since he has started opening in overseas Test matches, he has missed 12 and played only 10, and we need to put that record straight, that he should have played more and missed less. This is what we want," he said (2:10).
Rohit has aggregated 708 runs at an average of 33.71 in 12 Tests against Australia. He has scored 408 runs at a slightly lower average of 31.38 in seven Tests in Australia.