Team India has dealt a major blow to their chances of retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. According to reports, India captain Rohit Sharma is set to miss the first Test of the series against Australia in Perth.
Rohit is an integral part of the Indian Test team. He is not only a captain but also a definite opener and has a good record in the format over the last few years. His absence will be hard to fill for India, who are targeting a hat-trick of Test series wins in Australia later this year.
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Rohit Sharma to miss 1st Test against Australia
According to PTI, Rohit Sharma is currently busy with his personal work. Rohit has already informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about his condition, but the board is yet to get an official confirmation from him.
The first Test of the five-match Test series will be played at the Perth Stadium from November 22-26. This will be followed by a day-night test in Adelaide. Rohit is believed to be available for the second Test.
However, there is a chance that Rohit will be available for all the five Tests of the series if the personal issue is resolved before the series starts. The information was given by a source in PTI.
“If the personal issue is resolved before the start of the series, he can play all five Tests. We will know more in the coming days,” PTI quoted a source as saying.
Rohit Sharma’s latest form
Recently, Rohit Sharma led India to a comprehensive 2-0 Test series win over Bangladesh. However, his form with the bat was not good as he scored 42 runs at an average of 10.50 in 4 overs. After retiring from T20I after the conclusion of T20 World Cup 2024, he is currently on a break during the T20I series against Bangladesh.
His next assignment will be the three-match Test series against New Zealand starting October 16 in Bengaluru. Sharma will lead the team as India aim to consolidate their position in the points table at the World Test Championship (WTC).
Rohit Sharma’s role in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Rohit Sharma is likely to play a crucial role for India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. His ability to play the ball late can be key in Australian conditions.
In addition to this, the 37-year-old is an excellent player on bounce pitches as he plays the short ball well. India will expect him to provide good starts at the top, which will set the stage for the rest of the batting to follow.
In 7 Tests in Australia, Rohit scored 408 runs at an average of 31.38 with three half-centuries. The record doesn’t look great, but Rohit can raise his game when his team needs him the most. He can play effective shots and take the game away from the opposition.
