Rohit Sharma may lead India in three Tests after being included in the squad as regular skipper Virat Kohli will be absent from last 3 games since his wife Anushka Sharma is expecting first child. BCCI announced the revised Indian squads on Monday for the upcoming Australia tour.
The major update in the press release was the skipper Virat Kohli missing the last three Tests of the tour. He has been granted the paternity leave with his wife Anushka Sharma expected to give birth to their first child early in January. At the same time, Rohit Sharma was added to the Test squad but was rested from ODI and T20I series to not risk aggravating his hamstring injury as per advice from medical board.
Rohit Sharma Added To Test Squad
All the speculations around Rohit Sharma who wasn’t included in any of the squads announced on October 26 were put to rest after BCCI statement. Soon after the team announcement, the Mumbai Indians skipper had started training in the nets probably making a statement and it had caused quite a stir. Moreover, he also played a couple of matches for his franchise and was eventually added in the team for the tussle in the longest format Down Under.
Interestingly, the reports suggest that limited-overs skipper opener Rohit Sharma might end up leading team India in Tests in Virat Kohli’s absence. Ahead of the announcement of the revised squads, a source in the BCCI had told Times of India that the management desperately wants him to be absolutely fit for the Test series with the regular captain not playing.
Rohit Sharma Needed For Tests Against Formidable Australia As Ajinkya Rahane Is In Poor Form With Bat
The source had also said that the limited-overs vice-captain might also lead the team while the Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane not in the greatest of forms in whites. Ajinkya Rahane was appointed as vice-captain of Tests but his average dropped below 35 in 2018 and 2020 although it was above 70 in 2019.
“With Kohli set to miss the last three Tests of what is set to be a tough series, and Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane in poor form, we need Rohit for the Tests against a formidable Australia. He may even lead the team in the Tests. We want to give him complete time to recover from his hamstring injury,” he had said.
Though the BCCI hasn’t confirmed anything yet officially, this comes as a sensational development and it remains to be seen if Rohit Sharma leads the team down under. It also depends on the performance of Ajinkya Rahane in the warm-up games and the first Test which will be played under the lights in Adelaide with pink balls.