New Delhi: Team India skipper Rohit Sharma is reportedly set to miss the first Test against Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. In his absence, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will lead India in the series opener in Perth which gets underway on Friday, November 22. Rohit was blessed with a baby boy on Friday.
As per a report in the Indian Express, Rohit has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he will need some more time with his wife and family after the birth of their second child and thus will not be available for the 1st Test of the five-match series against Australia in Perth. In his absence, vice-captain Bumrah will take over captaincy.
The Indian team has also decided to keep left-handed batter Devdutt Padikkal in Australia as cover for Rohit in his absence. Padikkal was part of the India A team that travelled to Australia for two unofficial Tests against Australia A and has impressed the Indian team management with his performances.
A BCCI official confirmed that Rohit will be available for India in the 2nd Test, a pink-ball encounter in Adelaide. It still remains unclear when Rohit will board the flight for Australia as there is a 9-day gap between the first two Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“We were hoping that he (Rohit) will travel but he has informed the BCCI that he can’t go now as he needs some more time. He will be flying to Australia for the pink-ball Test match, the second match, in Adelaide. There is a nine-day gap between the first and second Test matches, so Rohit will be able to be there on time,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying by Indian Express.
Nitish Reddy likely to make Test debut in Perth
As per Indian Express, young all-rounder Nitish Reddy is set to make his Test debut for India in the 1st Test against Australia in Perth. Reddy, who impressed for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2024, was fast-tracked into the Indian team earlier this year. He made his T20I debut for India in the Bangladesh series at home and was later included in India’s Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The Indian team management has decided to include Reddy in the XI to bolster their pace attack for the Perth Test where the pitch is expected to assist the pacers with bounce and carry. Reddy, who is the only pace-bowling all-rounder in the squad, has so far played 21 first-class matches in his career and has 779 runs and 56 wickets to his name.
Senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah is reportedly set to lead India in the absence of Rohit Sharma in the 1st Test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Nitish Reddy is likely to make his debut in the Perth Test. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
