Who will captain India if Rohit Sharma is unavailable for the 1st BGT 2024-25 Test in Perth?
Rohit Sharma has not traveled with the Indian team to Australia for the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Test series. As per reports, he has stayed back in India to be with his family for the birth of his second child.
There is still no clarity over whether the 37-year-old will be available for the first Test of the series against Australia, which will be played at the Optus Stadium in Perth from November 22. As per some reports, he might be Down Under in time for the first Test. A few other reports have claimed that he could also miss the second match in Adelaide, which starts on December 6.
At a press conference ahead of India's departure for the tour of Australia, Gambhir admitted that there is still no clarity over Rohit's availability for the opening Test in Perth. Responding to a query, he commented:
“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 who would captain India in Perth if Rohit is unavailable, Gambhir confirmed that vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah will take the role.
“Bumrah is the vice-captain, so obviously If Rohit is not available, he is going to lead in Perth,” the former India opener said.
Bumrah has only led India in one Test match to date. He captained the side during the fifth Test against England in Birmingham in July 2022 (rescheduled Test) after Rohit was ruled out of the match due to COVID-19.
India did well in the match to post 416 in their first innings on back of hundreds from Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja. However, England chased down a target of 378 courtesy of unbeaten centuries from Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow.
"We will take a call closer to the first Test" - Gambhir on Rohit's likely replacement for the Perth Test
If Rohit is unavailable for the Perth Test against Australia, Abhimanyu Easwaran or KL Rahul could open the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Speaking to the media ahead of India's departure for Australia, Gambhir said:
"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."
Both Easwaran and Rahul struggled in the unofficial Tests played between India A and Australia A. While the former played both Tests and registered a highest score of 17, Rahul featured in the second match and scored 4 & 10.