India appear certain to be without Rohit Sharma for the first Test against Australia as debate swirls around his position both as captain and in the squad. It has emerged the 37-year-old will not be on the team’s flight this week ahead of next week’s Border-Gavaskar series opener in Perth, staying home for the imminent birth of his second child with wife Ritika Sajdeh. Jasprit Bumrah is expected to stand in as skipper — an appointment Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar believes should be locked in for all five matches, regardless of when Rohit returns.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today “It is important for the captain to play the first Test match,” Gavaskar said on Sports Tak . “It’s different if he is injured, but if he is not available, then the deputy leader will be under a lot of pressure. “I have been reading that Rohit Sharma might not play the first two Tests of the Australia series.
“I feel that in that case the selection committee should appoint Jasprit Bumrah the captain of the side for the entire Australia tour, and tell Rohit Sharma that you will participate as a player in this series.” Gavaskar pointed to India’s stunning series defeat at home to New Zealand as a crucial factor in his call. “Because we have lost this series 0-3, there is a need for a captain.
The captain has to unite the team. If there is no captain in the beginning (against Australia), it is better to make someone else the captain,” he said. But Australian Worl.
