BGT 2024-25: Rohit Sharma to miss first test; Jasprit Bumrah to lead side

Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma will not be able to play the first Test match against Australia. Rohit has informed the BCCI about this. The first Test match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia will be played at Optus Stadium in Perth from November 22. Rohit has recently become a father for the second time. He wants to spend some more time with his wife and newborn son. Jasprit Bumrah will captain Team India in the first Test match in place of Rohit. Bumrah has arrived in Australia with Team India as vice-captain. In the absence of Rohit, he will be seen captaining in Perth. Rohit Sharma is expected to play in the second Test match. The second Test of the series will be played in Adelaide from December 6 which will be day-night game.

Due to the absence of Rohit Sharma, the Indian selectors have asked Devdutt Padikkal to stay in Australia. Padikkal was touring Australia with the India A team. Padikkal has been included in India’s 18-member squad. Meanwhile, KL Rahul batted in the nets on Sunday. This removed the concerns about his fitness, which indicates that he is ready to open the innings in the first Test against Australia.

KL Rahul may open the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal

In the ‘intra-squad’ (Indian players practice by dividing into two teams) practice match at the WACA ground on Friday, Rahul left the field for treatment after a ball from fast bowler Prasidh Krishna hit his elbow while batting. It is speculated that the team management will start the innings with the pair of Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. On Sunday, 32-year-old Rahul batted without any problem and participated in all kinds of ‘drills’ during the three-hour net session and also batted for a long time.