BGT 2024-25: Rohit Sharma set to miss 1st test, Jasprit Bumrah to lead India in Perth

Rohit Sharma will join the Indian squad ahead of the second test.

Indian test captain Rohit Sharma will miss the upcoming first test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) against Australia, starting on November 22 in Perth.

Over the past few weeks, there had been speculations and uncertainties regarding his availability for the opening test of the BGT 2024-25 as his wife Ritika Sajdeh was pregnant

On Friday, 15th November, Rohit announced on social media the birth of his second child. While there was still a possibility of Rohit flying to Australia quickly and appearing in the Perth test, it was always unlikely as he hadn’t had any practice.

Now, he will be joining the squad ahead of the second test, which is a day-night fixture, starting on December 6 in Adelaide. Before the second test, India will play a two-day warm-up match in day-night setting against Prime Minister’s XI at the Manuka Oval, Canberra on November 30 and December 1. Rohit will appear in this warm-up match ahead of the second test.

Who will captain India in the Perth test against Australia?

Vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah will assume the captaincy duties in Perth in Rohit’s absence. Bumrah has led India in one test match previously, the fifth test of their two-part 2021-22 tour of England at Edgbaston, when Sharma missed it after testing positive for Covid-19.

Further, India will also miss Shubman Gill in the first test as the right-hander has been ruled out due to a thumb injury that he sustained while fielding during India’s match simulation training on Saturday.

KL Rahul and the uncapped Abhimanyu Easwaran are the two front-runners to fill in the positions of Gill and Rohit, respectively. India would also be tempted to play Dhruv Jurel in the XI after his impressive performance against Australia A.

The management has asked Devdutt Padikkal, who was part of India A’s tour of Australia, to stay back with the squad as a cover for Gill.

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