India’s Test captain Rohit Sharma may miss one of the first two matches of the upcoming five-Test series in Australia due to personal reasons. The BCCI has been informed of the situation, and a decision on Rohit’s availability will be made in the coming days.
If Rohit is unavailable, Abhimanyu Easwaran is likely to replace him as the opener. Easwaran is currently leading the India A team on a tour of Australia. Shubman Gill and KL Rahul are also options for the opening slot, but Easwaran is considered the frontrunner.
The absence of Rohit would be a significant blow to India’s chances in Australia. The 37-year-old is one of the world’s best batsmen and has been in excellent form in recent months. He scored a century in each of the two Tests against Bangladesh and was named Player of the Series.
In the event that Rohit misses a Test, the vice-captaincy will be up for grabs. There are three main candidates for the role: Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rishabh Pant. Gill is Rohit’s deputy in white-ball cricket, while Bumrah has led India in a Test match in England. Pant is another experienced player who has captained his IPL team, the Delhi Capitals.
The decision on who will be vice-captain will be made by the team management, led by head coach Rahul Dravid. Dravid will also have to decide on the playing XI for the first Test, which begins on November 22 in Perth.
India’s tour of Australia is one of the most challenging in world cricket. The Aussies are the reigning World Test Champions and have a strong record at home. India will need to be at their best to win the series, and the absence of Rohit would be a major setback.
