Just a day left! From tomorrow, Gautam Gambhir and the boys will face the Aussie side in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. For the 1st time after the T20 World Cup, team India might be featuring in an important tournament without Rohit Sharma. Before starting this highly exciting series, several media were claimed that Rohit Sharma was withdrawing himself completely from this series. But now that speculation has ended.
The Indian cricket captain is set to fly to Australia in the coming days. He will join the Indian team on November 24, two days after the start of the Perth Test. Rohit, who had initially stayed back due to the birth of his second child, will now join his teammates at the Optus Stadium.
Rohit’s Absence and Baby Boy’s Birth
The ‘Hitman’ became a father for the second time on November 15, when he welcomed a baby boy. Due to this, he did not travel with the team when they departed for Australia on November 10-11 in different groups. Despite speculation about his participation in the Perth Test, Rohit decided to stay back and miss the series’ first match.
Bumrah to Lead India in Rohit’s Absence
With Rohit absent, Jasprit Bumrah is leading India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy’s opening match. Speaking to the media ahead of the first Test, Bumrah acknowledged staying in touch with Rohit. He said, “I spoke to Rohit earlier, and now I have gained some clarity regarding my role as captain.”
Bumrah on Leadership and His Approach
Bumrah also addressed his approach to captaincy during the pre-match press conference. “I don’t see captaincy as just a position,” he stated. “I’ve always liked taking responsibility. I enjoy working hard, especially in tough situations, and this is a new challenge for me.”
He added, “It’s natural to feel like I wouldn’t tell Rohit to step down. He is our captain and is doing an excellent job. This is for just one match, but who knows what the future holds.”
Shami to Rejoin Indian Team Soon
In the same press conference, Bumrah also hinted that pacer Mohammad Shami might soon rejoin the Indian team. He revealed, “Shami has started playing cricket again, and he is definitely an important part of this team. We hope everything goes well, and you’ll see him back here soon.”
Shami to Play in Domestic Matches
The Bengal’s speedster has been advised to play in domestic cricket to regain match fitness and has been included in the Bengal team for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The T20 competition began on November 23, with Shami scheduled to play in Rajkot. However, before being considered for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Shami needs clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
Shami, who has been away from international cricket for a while, made his comeback to competitive cricket with a stellar performance in the Ranji Trophy against Madhya Pradesh. Despite expectations of a swift return to the national team, Shami has yet to be called up.
