Mumbai: Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma had a moment to celebrate on Friday as he and his wife, Ritika, welcomed a baby boy. This personal milestone comes with a silver lining for the team, as it raises the possibility of Rohit joining the squad in time for the first Test against Australia, scheduled to start in Perth on November 22.
Rohit’s Potential Return a Boost for India
If Rohit becomes available for the series opener, it would bring much-needed stability to India’s batting order and leadership. The team has struggled to find a consistent partner for Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top of the order, with potential candidates failing to impress in recent India A games.
KL Rahul Suffers Minor Injury
During a three-day intra-squad practice match at the WACA ground, KL Rahul opened with Jaiswal but faced an early setback. He was struck on the right elbow by a rising delivery from pacer Prasidh Krishna and had to leave the field. Reports suggest the injury is not serious, but Rahul did not take any further part in the day’s play.
The intra-squad game featured India’s main Test team members and India A players. The injury to Rahul, while not severe, has put the spotlight on India’s options for the opening slot. Abhimanyu Easwaran is available as a specialist opener, while Shubman Gill, who has previously excelled as an opener during the historic 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar series, remains another option.
Virat Kohli Declared Fit
In a positive update, Virat Kohli underwent scans on Thursday but showed no signs of discomfort during the practice game. He is expected to be in full form for the first Test.
Batting Woes on Perth’s Bouncy Track
India’s batters found the going tough against seamers Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Prasidh Krishna during practice. Senior players like Kohli and Rishabh Pant, along with Jaiswal and Gill, struggled in their initial outings. However, both Jaiswal and Gill made amends in their second innings, finishing unbeaten on 58 and 42, respectively.
Concerns Over Recent Form
India’s batting lineup remains under scrutiny following a disappointing home series against New Zealand, where they lost all three Tests. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli failed to deliver consistently, managing just one half-century between them across six innings.
With the high-stakes series against Australia on the horizon, the potential availability of Rohit Sharma and improved performances from the younger batters could be crucial for India’s success Down Under.
