No clarity from Gambhir on Rohit Sharma's availability as reports hint at India captain staying back

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir refused to disclose anything on captain Rohit Sharma’s availability for the first Test against Australia which starts on 22 November. There have been reports that Rohit could miss the first or the first two Tests as his wife Ritika Sajdeh is expecting a baby, but Gambhir said that he hopes Rohit will be available for the first Test.

“At the moment, there is no confirmation but we will let you know exactly what the situation will be. Hopefully, he’s going to be available, but everything we’re going to get to know at the start of the series,” Gambhir said at Team India’s pre-departure press conference.

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Rohit Sharma skips first batch trip to Australia

Interestingly Rohit was not a part of the first batch of players who left for Australia on Sunday night. Five players left for Australia on Sunday including Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Gill, Washington Sundar, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. The remaining squad members including coach Gambhir will leave on Monday.

A report in the Times of India says that Rohit would not be travelling to Australia with the second batch as well, however, could join them just ahead of the first Test.

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Gambhir also reflected on the options that Team India has in case the 37-year-old Rohit misses any of the matches during the five-Test series in Australia. The 43-year-old coach said Abhimanyu Easwaran and KL Rahul are already in Australia and can fill in for Rohit.

“Obviously there is [Abhimanyu] Easwaran and there is [KL [Rahul] there. So we will take a call closer to the first Test match if Rohit is not available,” Gambhir added. “There are options there, it’s not that there are no options there. There are quite a few options in the squad.

“Once it gets closer to the first Test match, we’ll plan and play the best playing XI that’s going to do the job for us.”

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Easwaran and Rahul recently played for India A in Australia and failed to impress in their limited outing. Easwaran played in two matches and registered scores of 7, 12, 0, and 17, while Rahul managed 4 and 10 in the second and final match.

Gambhir backs KL Rahul as Rohit’s replacement

Rahul, who opened for India in Tests in the past, has now been moved to the middle order but is once again in the reckoning to open alongside Jaiswal if Rohit misses the first Test. In the press conference, Gambhir praised Rahul for his versatility as he can bat in the top and middle order and can also keep wickets if needed.

“There are times when you go with the experienced players as well. And that is the quality of the man. That he can bat at the top of the order, he can bat at No. 3 and he can actually bat at No. 6 as well,” said Gambhir. “You need quite a lot of talent to be doing these kinds of jobs as well. And he’s kept wickets in the one-day format as well.

“Imagine how many countries have players like KL who can open the batting and can bat at No. 6 as well? So I feel if need be, he can do the job for us, especially if Rohit is not available for the first Test match.”

India vs Australia five-match Test series schedule: