Rohit Sharma May Miss First Test of Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia    

Team India skipper Rohit Sharma will be unavailable when his team begins the Border Gavaskar Trophy vs Australia. The skipper reportedly shared reasons for his potential absence and cited ‘family reasons’ fuelled the decision.

Aakash Chopra Reportedly Confirms Rohit Shama’s Absence from the First Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 Test

Absence due to personal reasons

Former Team India cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra confirmed Sharma’s likely absence from the first Border Gavaskar Trophy game. He made this known via a YouTube video where he shared several insights into the captain’s likely omission from their first Test squad:

“This will sway our emotions a little. There is news about Rohit Sharma. It has not come from official sources but I can confirm that the news is there. The news is that he might miss one game. It could be the first Test or the second Test. Since it’s because of personal reasons, it’s also being said that he might be available for the entire series,” Aakash said.

Chopra seemed to suggest that Sharma’s absence from the first or second Border-Gavaskar encounter will likely be due to personal reasons.

‘Big loss’ for Team India

The veteran commentator also suggested that Sharma could be out of one of the first two tests before joining Team India’s 3rd lineup:

“He was injured last time and straightaway came to play the Sydney Test. He wasn’t available in Adelaide and didn’t play the Melbourne Test. Virat Kohli played the pink-ball Test and then wasn’t available for the three Tests after that. Here also, Rohit Sharma might not be available for one of the first two Tests. It will be a big loss,” Chopra added.

Sharma’s likely absence from the first or second match vs Australia will be a huge blow to India’s chances. The team will have to rely on other players to fill Sharma’s opening role as they aim to upset a strong Australia side as visitors.

How Many Tests Has Rohit Sharma Played on Australian Soil?

Sharma has been part of seven (7) Test squads to Australia, and he holds a decent record vs the host team. The cricketer has managed 408 runs with 3 fifties (personal best of 63 not out) before this scheduled encounter for 2024. He will be raring to extend his performance record in Tests vs Australia as India aim to lift the Border-Gavaskar Trophy away from home.

Who Will Be Team Skipper in Rohit Sharma’s Absence?

Potential skippers to replace Rohit Sharma are Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant.

Who is a Likely Option to Replace Rohit Sharma in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy?

Likely replacements for Rohit Sharma’s opening role in this competition are KL Rahul and Shubman Gill. Another potential choice to fill in for the skipper is Abhimanyu Easwaran.

Is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy a High-Stakes Tournament?

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is a prestigious competition held between Australia vs India. Each edition has been a months-long competition between these sides for bragging rights as one of cricket’s top nations. The next edition of this trophy’s competition is on schedule to hold across five cities in Australia. It is one of cricket’s most-prestigious bilateral series.

Warm-Up Tour for Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Schedule

Team India is on schedule to visit Australia several weeks before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 officially begins. India will challenge Australia in two 4-day matches (Oct 31 to 3 Nov and 7 Nov to 10 Nov). The Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay and Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) are scheduled grounds to host these respective games.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will begin on November 22, 2024 and run until January 7, 2025. India and Australia will take part in five 5-day Test matches with four day and one day-night meeting on schedule. All the encounters will hold in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.