Gautam Gambhir to Return to the Indian Team
India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, is set to return to Australia on Tuesday after briefly returning to India for personal reasons. His absence coincided with India's two-day tour match against the Australian Prime Minister's XI in Canberra, which had been shortened to a limited-overs contest due to rain. Gambhir departed on November 26, following the conclusion of the first Test in Perth, where the play ended a day earlier than scheduled.
The day-night second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide begins on December 6. During Gambhir's absence, the coaching staff, including Abhishek Nayar, Ryan ten Doeschate, and Morne Morkel, managed the team’s preparation and oversaw their six-wicket victory in the Canberra game. Harshit Rana shone with figures of 4 for 44, while Shubman Gill scored a fluent 50 off 62 balls.
Gambhir now faces the challenging task of finalising India’s playing XI. Rohit Sharma, who missed the first Test to be with his family for the birth of his second child, has rejoined the squad. In his absence, Jasprit Bumrah led India to a commanding 295-run victory in Perth. Additionally, Gill, sidelined for the Perth Test due to a thumb fracture, has recovered and is back in contention.
India's lineup could see significant adjustments. Rohit and Gill are likely to replace Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel, who played in Perth. However, the opening partnership remains a key discussion point. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul impressed with a double-century stand in Perth’s second innings, suggesting they may retain their spots. Gill is expected to slot in at No. 3, with Rohit likely taking a middle-order position behind Virat Kohli. Rishabh Pant is another definite pick for the middle order.
With crucial decisions on the horizon, Gambhir's return comes at a pivotal moment as India gears up for the next leg of the series.
03 December 2024, 02:52