India captain Rohit Sharma will fly out to Australia with the team to prepare for Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a top source told India Today. Rohit, who is expecting his second child with wife Ritika Sajdeh was expected to miss the first Test match in Perth and join the side from the 2nd game.
A top source told India Today in the conditions of anonymity that Sharma will travel to Australia but might not play the 1st Test match. Earlier, Sharma was asked about his availability for the opening Test against Australia, to which the batter could not give a definitive reply. Sharma had said that he was keeping his fingers crossed on his participation but did not know for sure at the moment.
“He is travelling but his participation in the 1st Test is yet not confirmed. Will see what happens next anything in regards to this. His availability is subject to his personal matter,” a top source told India Today in the conditions of anonymity.
Things have been busy for the India captain after losing a home Test series against New Zealand. News agency PTI reported that Rohit was a part of a 6-hour review meeting, hosted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India to discuss the shock result – India’s first ever whitewash at home.
“It was a six-hour marathon meeting, which was obviously on cards after such a debacle. India are going on a tour of Australia, and the BCCI would obviously like to ensure that the team is back on track and would like to know how the think-tank (Gambhir-Rohit-Agarkar) are going about it,” a senior BCCI source privy to the development told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
It was learnt that BCCI mandarins weren’t exactly happy that pace spearhead and team’s vice-captain Bumrah was rested for the third Test and why the team opted for a rank turner after being beaten on a similar kind of surface in Pune.
“Bumrah’s absence was discussed, although it was a precautionary move. Opting for a rank turner despite India not faring well on these tracks are some of the issues that came up for discussion,” the source informed.
The trio were told to give suggestions on how corrective measures can be taken. It can’t be confirmed whether Gambhir’s coaching style was questioned or not, but it is understood that some people in the Indian team think tank aren’t on the same page with the chief coach.
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