Who can open the innings for India in Perth if Rohit Sharma is unavailable for the 1st Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Test?
The Indian cricket team is in Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but there is still no certainty as to whether skipper Rohit Sharma will be available for the first Test. The opening game of the five-match series will begin at the Optus Stadium in Perth on November 22.
There have been multiple reports doing the rounds over Rohit's potential absence from the first Test in Perth due to personal reasons. The Indian captain and wife Ritika Sajdeh are reportedly likely to welcome their second child soon. Their first child Samaira was born in December 2018.
As per some reports, while Rohit has not left for Australia with the other members of the Test squad, he could still end up reaching the country in time for the first Test. On the other hand, some reports claim that the 37-year-old looks set to miss the Perth Test. As per a few other rumors, Rohit is doubtful not only for the first Test, but the second match in Adelaide as well, which begins on December 6.
At the press conference ahead of Team India's departure for Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, head coach Gautam Gambhir admitted that there is still no clarity over Rohit's availability for the first Test. He said:
“At the moment, there is no confirmation but we will let you know exactly what the situation will be. Hopefully, he’s going to be available, but everything we’re going to get to know at the start of the series."
Asked about Rohit's possible replacements in the playing XI in case the captain is unavailable for the Perth Test, Gambhir replied that they have options in Abhimanyu Easwaran and KL Rahul. He added that a final call on Yashasvi Jaiswal’s opening partner will be taken closer to the Test match. The former Team India batter stated:
"Obviously there is [Abhimanyu] Easwaran and there is KL [Rahul] there. So we will take a call closer to the first Test match if Rohit is not available. There are options there, it's not that there are no options there. There are quite a few options in the squad.
"Once it gets closer to the first Test match, we'll plan and play the best playing XI that's going to do the job for us," Gambhir, himself a former opener, added.
The 43-year-old further hinted that Shubman Gill, who has opened in the past in Australia, could also be considered for the role.
"We will try and get the best combination possible who can do the job for us in Perth. And be it Shubman opening the batting or Easwaran or KL, it all depends on what we feel is the right combination," Gambhir concluded.
Incidentally, Rohit missed the first two Tests of the 2020-21 tour of Australia as well due to fitness issues.
How Rohit Sharma's possible replacements have fared in Tests in Australia
Rahul made his Test debut in Australia during the Boxing Day Test of 2014. In nine innings Down Under, he has scored 187 runs at a poor average of 20.77, with one century to his name.
Gill also made his Test debut in Australia during the Boxing Day Test of 2020. In six innings, he scored 259 runs at an average of 51.80, with two fifties, which included the famous 91 in the Gabba Test.
As for Easwaran, he is yet to make his Test debut. However, the 29-year-old was part of the two unofficial Tests for India A against Australia A recently. The right-handed batter struggled in both games, registering scores of 7, 12, 0 & 17.