In a significant turn of events, the Indian cricket team may have to do without the services of their captain Rohit Sharma for at least a Test in the forthcoming series against Australia that consists of five Tests. As per reports, Rohit has conveyed to the board that he may not be participating in one of the initial two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 season, for reasons that are said to be personal. The Australia tour commences on 22nd November and the first Test will be played in Perth, with the second Test commencing on 6th December in Adelaide.
“It is not as if the position is completely clear. It is understood that Rohit has communicated to the BCCI and expressed that there is a possibility, that due to some urgent personal matter, he may have to miss one of the two Tests at the start of the series,” a BCCI source informed news agency PTI on the condition of anonymity So, furthering the understanding of the situation is the source’s statement, ‘
If that is the case, and the personal matter is resolved prior to the commencement of the series, he may feature in all five Tests. We shall find out more in the days to come,) the source said
If Rohit’s Test is missed due to injury, the Indian cricket team may include Abhimanyu Easwaran as his replacement. Easwaran is also the travelling captain of the India A team during the Australia Tour.
Meanwhile, there is no clarity about who would be the vice-captain of the Test squad since there was no acting deputy of Rohit when he played in the recent two-match Test series against Bangladesh at home.
“I think we need to understand that we have got a lot of IPL captains in this team. When you talk about the likes of Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, hopefully a Yashasvi (Jaiswal) going forward, There are a lot of players who have led their franchises,” Abhishek Nayar had mentioned to the press before the start of second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur.
Three players are on the ladder for the position – Rohit’s white ball deputy Gill, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah who has captained in Tests for India in England, and keeper-batter Rishabh Pant.
“I wouldn’t look at them as youngsters anymore. Yes, they are youngsters in terms of age and the amount of cricket they have played. But, I think overall, mentally and in their development as a cricketer, I think they have the leadership qualities that are required. You don’t need to have a vice-captain that should be designated,” Nayar had said in reference to the red-ball vice-captaincy
“I think overall, the thought process of these youngsters is of a senior player. It’s of someone who has played a lot of cricket.”
