Rohit Sharma’s Test Series Debut in Australia Uncertain

Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma will not initially accompany Team India to Australia for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series. The 37-year-old cricketer, who is soon to welcome his second child, may, however, still join his team in time for the first Test match against Australia in Perth, scheduled for November 22.

A BCCI source shared on Sunday that, while Rohit would not be part of the initial departure, he might still travel to Australia closer to the start of the series, suggesting a possible late arrival in the third week of November. Team India is heading to Australia in two separate groups over Sunday and Monday, prepared for the highly anticipated clash. Previously, Rohit had hinted that he might miss the first Test due to family commitments. Should he be absent, Jasprit Bumrah is expected to take on the role of captain for the opening match at the Optus Stadium.

To secure a direct qualification for the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s in June 2025, India needs to clinch victory in at least four of the five Tests against Australia. The upcoming series thus carries high stakes for Team India, with Rohit’s availability potentially influencing the outcome of this challenging endeavour.