INDIA TOUR OF AUSTRALIA, 2024-25
Rohit Sharma is set to join the team midway during the Perth Test © Getty
Skipper Rohit Sharma is all set to fly out to Australia in the coming days. He is expected to join the team in Perth on November 24, the third day of the first Test at Optus Stadium. His departure to Australia was delayed due to the birth of his second child.
Rohit will, therefore, be available for the second Test of the series to be held at the Adelaide Oval from December 6-10. As part of his preparation for that fixture, the Indian captain will also be part of the India A squad for the practice game against Prime Ministers XI, a day-night two-day fixture at the Manuka Oval, Canberra from November 30-December 1.
The Indian team left for Australia in three batches between November 9 and 11 but Rohit stayed back for the birth of his second child. Rohit was blessed with a baby boy on November 15 and since then his visit to Australia has been subject of speculation.
While some reports suggested that he would be in Perth much before the first Test, which starts on Friday (November 22) morning, it was always clear that he would delay his journey. Cricbuzz now can confirm that he has informed the concerned authorities in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he would join the squad on Sunday.
In the absence of Rohit, Jasprit Bumrah is leading the side in the first Test. Earlier in the day he spoke about being in touch with the regular skipper. “I spoke with Rohit earlier. But I got a little bit of clarity on leading the side after coming in here,” Bumrah said in the press conference on the eve of the start of Perth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Bumrah also hinted at the likely inclusion of Mohammed Shami in the India squad. “Shami bhai has started to play cricket, and obviously, he is an integral part of this team. I’m sure the management is also keeping a keen eye. Hopefully, things fall in place and you might see him here as well,” the stand-in skipper said during the pre-Test media conference.
Shami has been asked to play domestic matches and he has been included in the Bengal squad for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The T20 competition starts in different centres on November 23 and Shami will be playing in Rajkot. He will have to have clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) before he can be considered for the BGT.
© cricbuzz
