Ruturaj Gaikwad was ignored by an Indian legend. Photo: AP
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Rohit Sharma is likely to miss a Test match against Australia
- Rohit will reportedly miss a game due to personal reasons
- Rohit opens the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal
India could be without the services of Rohit Sharma for a Test match against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. PTI recently reported that Rohit could miss one Test match of the five-match series due to personal reasons. Rohit will make his return during the series and lead Team India after missing one game.
India will have a new opening pair in Rohit's absence. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhimanyu Easwaran seem to be in the fray to replace Rohit. The opening batsmen have been part of the Test team but are uncapped.
Ruturaj is capped in white-ball cricket and he captained India to a gold medal win in the 2023 Asian Games. Speaking to Jio Cinema, Anil Kumble ignored Ruturaj and picked Shubman Gill as Yashasvi Jaiswal's opening partner.
Shubman is a full-time opener but he has been batting at number 3 in Tests since Yashasvi's debut. Yashasvi's quick batting was too good to be ignored and he made his Test debut against West Indies in July 2023.
"You know he (Shubman) is exceptionally talented, skilful and he's done that. He's been to Australia before. Like you mentioned, in Brisbane, he got a wonderful fifty there and he knows the conditions," the Indian legend told Jio Cinema.
"I don't want to change that. I know there's a temptation to push Shubman Gill because Rohit is not available in the first Test. But, there's always KL Rahul, which is synonymous with change and adapting to whatever the team wants."
It remains to be seen if India hand a debut to Ruturaj or Easwaran or will the team management change the batting position of Shubman. Rahul can also open the innings, which will make a place for Sarfaraz Khan in the middle-order.
India have confirmed Jasprit Bumrah as their vice-captain and he will lead the visiting team in the game which Rohit will miss. Bumrah made his captaincy debut in the one-off Test match against England in July 2022.
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