Cricket

Rohit Sharma's participation in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener remains uncertain despite the birth of his second child. Former cricketer Surinder Khanna has urged Rohit to prioritize the series opener, emphasizing the significance of his presence for India's chances.Rohit had previously informed the BCCI of his unavailability for the first Test due to the birth of his son. In his absence, vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah is expected to lead the Indian team.Khanna, while extending his congratulations to Rohit and his family, stressed the importance of Rohit joining the squad for the high-stakes encounter. He recalled his own experience of returning to a match on the evening of his wedding reception, highlighting the commitment required from players.India's recent struggles in the New Zealand series have added to the complexities ahead of the Australia tour. The team suffered a 3-0 clean sweep, marking their first such defeat in a home Test series since 2000.The first Test against Australia begins on November 22 in Perth, followed by matches in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. The series is crucial for India's World Test Championship (WTC) Final hopes, as they currently trail Australia in the standings.To qualify for the third successive WTC final, India must win at least four of the five Tests against Australia. The team will be looking to bounce back from their New Zealand debacle and secure a strong start to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has expressed his support for Indian skipper Rohit Sharma's decision to miss the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to the birth of his second child.Clarke, who is known for his unwavering commitment to cricket, believes that family should always come first. He recalled the birth of his daughter as the most special moment of his life, emphasizing that he would have prioritized his family over any cricket match."To be honest, the greatest day of my life over any cricket event, over any Test match victory, over captaining Australia. The greatest day of my life was the day when my daughter was born, and being there for that moment was the most special moment of my life," Clarke said.Clarke acknowledged Rohit's passion for playing for India, but he believes that the Indian skipper's decision to be present for the birth of his child is a testament to his priorities."I have no doubt that in an ideal world, it would have been great if his second child came a week early or two weeks early so he could play every Test match. Rohit loves playing for India as much as I love playing for Australia. He is a great player and a wonderful captain. He will be missed. But every single person must respect that decision of any man," Clarke noted.Clarke's comments echo the sentiments of many cricket fans and experts who have come out in support of Rohit's decision. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, however, had suggested that Rohit should feature in the opening Test, sparking a debate on social media.Despite the absence of Rohit, Clarke believes that the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be a fiercely contested series. He praised the quality of both teams and predicted that the matches would be close and exciting."I think it's going to be a great series. India is a very good team, and Australia is a very good team. I think it's going to be a very close series. I think it's going to be a very exciting series," Clarke said.

The upcoming Border-Gavaskar series against Australia will be a crucial test for India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, according to former India pacer Harbhajan Singh. India suffered a historic 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand in a Test series at home, and they need to bounce back in style against the mighty Aussies. The World Test Championship finale spot is also at stake.Gambhir's anger and patience will be tested, but he needs to stay calm if he wants Team India to perform better, said Harbhajan. "It is difficult to run big teams, everyone takes time. If the results were fine, everyone would have said 'see, Gautam is making the team win'. The series against Australia is important, a lot of things will be tested. Gautam Gambhir who will be sitting outside, his anger and patience will be tested," Harbhajan said on Jatin Sapru's YouTube channel."He cannot control anything from the outside, big players get frustrated sitting on the sidelines. This Test, Gambhir needs to pass. The tour is very important for Gambhir. In this country, everyone has an opinion. Gautam Gambhir must be feeling low, he is on the radar. If the series doesn't go well, Gambhir will be at the receiving end. I want him to stay calm and for the team to perform well," he added.According to a report by the Indian Express, India skipper Rohit Sharma will not play in the first Test match against Australia, and Jasprit Bumrah will serve as captain in his absence. The report claimed that Rohit has already informed the BCCI that he will be spending more time with wife Ritika Sajdeh following the birth of their second child."We were hoping that he (Rohit) would travel but he has informed the BCCI that he can't go now as he needs some more time. He will be flying to Australia for the pink-ball Test match, the second match, in Adelaide. There is a nine-day gap between the first and second Test matches, so Rohit will be able to be there on time," a BCCI official told Indian Express.

India's Test captaincy conundrum has taken center stage ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener against Australia. With Rohit Sharma's availability uncertain due to the birth of his child, Jasprit Bumrah is poised to lead the team in Perth. However, former cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Harbhajan Singh have expressed contrasting views on Bumrah's potential tenure as captain.Gavaskar advocates for Bumrah to helm the team throughout the series, arguing that continuity and stability are crucial. However, Harbhajan raises concerns about the potential for chaos if India wins under Bumrah's leadership. He believes that fans would clamor for Bumrah to remain as captain, while a loss would trigger calls for Rohit's return.Harbhajan emphasizes the fickle nature of public opinion, stating that "we change sides very quickly." He suggests that a single captain for the entire series would be preferable, as it would eliminate the potential for confusion and instability.Despite his reservations, Harbhajan acknowledges Bumrah's leadership qualities. He believes that Bumrah has the ability to lead the team effectively, but cautions against making any hasty decisions based on short-term results.The debate over India's Test captaincy is likely to continue until Rohit's availability is confirmed. In the meantime, Bumrah's performance as captain in the Perth Test will be closely scrutinized, with the potential to shape the team's leadership dynamics for the remainder of the series.

India and Australia are set to clash in the highly anticipated opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Perth on November 22. The Indian team, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, is aiming for a historic third consecutive triumph on Australian soil.India has enjoyed recent success in Australia, securing back-to-back series wins in 2018-19 and 2020-21. To qualify directly for the World Test Championship final in 2025, India needs to win four Tests in this series.Australia, on the other hand, has not defeated India in a home Test series since 2014-15. The two teams also faced off in the World Test Championship final and the 50-over World Cup final last year, with Australia emerging victorious in both.This series marks the first five-Test encounter between India and Australia in over 30 years. The weather forecast for Perth on November 22 predicts pleasant conditions with a partly sunny sky and a minimal chance of rain.India's squad includes Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja. Australia's squad features Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Nathan Lyon.The series promises to be a thrilling contest between two of the world's top Test teams. India will be looking to continue their dominance in Australia, while the hosts will be eager to regain their home advantage.

India's decision to conduct closed-door practice sessions ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) opener in Perth has raised concerns among cricket experts. Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali believes it reflects a lack of confidence within the Indian team.India has dominated the BGT for a decade, but their recent form has been inconsistent. They were whitewashed 0-3 in the home Test series against New Zealand and have struggled to find their rhythm in red-ball cricket. The absence of star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who is expected to miss the first Test, has further compounded their problems.Basit Ali believes that India's closed-door practice sessions are a sign of their low confidence. "The Indian team's confidence at the moment is down," he said. "They are practicing behind closed doors, sorry to say that."He added that India should have played more warm-up matches to prepare for the Australian conditions. "The kind of preparation they should have had before the series is not there," he said. "They should have played (warm-up) matches and tackled their (Australian) bowling."Basit Ali also suggested that India should consider including wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel in the playing XI for the Perth Test. Jurel impressed with knocks of 80 and 68 in the unofficial Test between India A and Australia A in Melbourne."My personal opinion is that Jurel, who is in form, should be included in the playing eleven," Basit said. "In Australia, whosoever is in form should be played...So what if he (usually) bats at No. 5 or 6! Push him to No. 3. He has guts, is a good player of the cut and pull shots. It might pay."Basit Ali also advised Virat Kohli to practice more against left-arm fast bowlers, especially Khaleel Ahmed. "Let me give one piece of advice," he said. "I think Khaleel (Ahmed) is there. Practice more against the left-arm (fast) bowler, especially Virat Kohli."The first Test of the BGT begins in Perth on November 22. India will be looking to defend their title and extend their dominance in the series.

Australia, led by Pat Cummins, will face a formidable challenge from India in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, as the visitors aim for an unprecedented third consecutive series win on Australian soil. India's quest will be spearheaded by new captain Rohit Sharma, who is eager to etch his name in history.The series opener will commence on November 22 in Perth, marking the beginning of a highly anticipated clash between two cricketing powerhouses. India has enjoyed remarkable success in Australia in recent years, securing back-to-back series victories under Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane.Cummins, however, is confident in his team's ability to halt India's winning streak. "Yes, yes is the answer," he declared when asked about Australia's chances. He acknowledged India's strong organization and planning but expressed confidence in his team's recent successes in the World Test Championship final and ODI World Cup.India's pace attack will be spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, who has an impressive record in Australia. Cummins identified Bumrah as India's X-factor, highlighting his ability to play a pivotal role in the series.The absence of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane from India's squad has been noted by Cummins. He praised Pujara's resilience and acknowledged the challenge of facing him. "It's going to feel a bit different without him," Cummins said.India's young bowling trio of Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, and Akash Deep will be eager to make their mark in the series, while Australia will rely on the experience of Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy promises to be a captivating contest between two evenly matched teams. India will be determined to continue their dominance in Australia, while Cummins and his team will be equally determined to reclaim the trophy.

India's Test captain Rohit Sharma is facing a race against time to be fit for the opening match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, starting November 22 in Perth. Rohit and his wife Ritika Sajdeh welcomed their second child on Friday, and his availability for the first Test remains uncertain.In Rohit's absence, vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah is set to lead the Indian team. Head coach Gautam Gambhir has confirmed that Bumrah will take over the captaincy duties if Rohit is unavailable. Former India player Suresh Raina has endorsed Bumrah's leadership credentials, comparing him to Australia's Pat Cummins, who led the Aussies to victory in the World Test Championship and Cricket World Cup in 2023."For Bumrah, it's going to be a new opportunity. I think he is a good leader and has a good cricketing brain. Even Gauti bhai (coach Gautam Gambhir) said in the media that Jasprit has that astute leadership (quality), and I think he will be different," Raina told Times of India."Like if you see Pat Cummins, he won the World Cup for them (Australia), has done really well as a player and as a captain. I think Bumrah is close to that. If you look at it from the point of an opportunity, it's a gun opportunity for him. If he does well, I think we will have a future leader in Test cricket," he added.Gambhir has confirmed that Bumrah will lead the team in Perth if Rohit is unavailable. However, Rohit has not been officially ruled out of the series opener, and Gambhir has stated that the team will provide an update on his status closer to the start of the series.India's preparations for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy have been overshadowed by their recent 3-0 Test series defeat to New Zealand at home. The loss has made their path to the World Test Championship final more challenging. To qualify for the final in London, India must win the series against Australia by 4-0.

With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy just a week away, the uncertainty surrounding Rohit Sharma's availability for the opening Test continues to linger. The Indian captain is expected to miss the first match in Perth, starting November 22, due to the birth of his second child. However, neither Rohit nor head coach Gautam Gambhir have provided a definitive answer, leaving the team in a state of limbo.Former India player Mohammad Kaif has expressed his concern over this situation, stating that it is not ideal for the team in such a crucial series. India needs to win the five-match Test series 4-0 to qualify for the World Test Championship final without relying on external factors. A poor result in Australia could jeopardize their chances of reaching the summit clash."This scenario is completely wrong. You want your best team to play such a big Test match. Rohit Sharma should be there. He will open for India in the series and exactly knows how to lead the team. Rohit has every right to miss a game due to family matter but he should inform early. The suspense is not ideal," said Kaif in a video on his YouTube channel.Kaif believes that Rohit's hesitation to confirm his availability stems from his desire to play. He knows that the team lost 3-0 to New Zealand in their previous Test series and is eager to make amends. "Rohit might not have given confirmation about his availability because he wants to play. He knows the team has lost 3-0 to New Zealand. His wife is pregnant but if things are better at home, he will be there in Australia. That is why he has not announced about his unavailability yet. I think he wholeheartedly wants to go there and play," he added.Earlier this week, Gambhir stated that vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah will lead the side if Rohit is unavailable. However, Kaif believes that this is not an ideal solution. "No player agrees to captain a side for one game. It is not a good idea as well. It would be much better if Rohit leads India in the opening game," he said.The uncertainty surrounding Rohit's availability has created a sense of unease within the Indian team. With such a crucial series on the horizon, they need clarity and stability in their leadership. The sooner Rohit makes a decision, the better it will be for the team's preparation and morale.