 "While India captain Rohit Sharma has opted to stay back in Mumbai due to personal reasons, pacer Mohammed Shami was originally included in the squad for the Australia Tests due to injury concerns. Reuters")
Sourav Ganguly has urged India captain Rohit Sharma to board the flight to Australia “as early as possible” and play the first Test of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth. Test and ODI skipper Rohit had chosen to stay back in Mumbai to be with wife Ritika for the birth of his second child while the rest of the Indian squad left for Australia in two separate groups, and his participation in the series opener at the Optus Stadium currently appears unlikely .
Former India captain Ganguly, however, insisted that the visitors will need Rohit’s leadership for the entirety of what is expected to be one of their toughest Test challenges in recent memory.
“I hope Rohit Sharma goes very soon because the team needs leadership. I believe his wife delivered a baby boy yesterday night so I am sure he can leave. He can leave as early as possible and if I was in his position, he should be playing the Perth Test,” Ganguly told RevSportz.
“The match is a week away. Because it is a big series, he will not go to Australia after this, he is a fantastic captain. India needs his leadership to start with,” added ‘Dada’, who had led India to a 1-1 draw during their 2003-04 tour of Australia.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsRohit and wife Ritika had announced the birth of their son on Saturday through a post on social media, with the former yet to confirm his travel plans for the Australian tour.
Ganguly bats for Shami’s inclusion in Indian squad
Former BCCI president Ganguly also called for Mohammed Shami to be drafted into the visiting team’s squad for the upcoming Test series after the senior pacer made a successful comeback from a year-long absence in Bengal’s latest Ranji Trophy fixture, against Madhya Pradesh in Indore.
Shami collected seven wickets in his first competitive appearance since last year’s ICC World Cup final against Australia in Ahmedabad, including 4/54 in the first innings, and sent down more than 40 overs to give the Indian team management as well as the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee a clear idea as far as his fitness is concerned. His performance, along with spinner Shahbaz Ahmed’s all-round display, helped Bengal collecting a thrilling 11-run win against MP at the Holkar Stadium.
Shami had been left out of the BGT squad initially after a swollen left knee had complicated his recovery from an ankle surgery that he had undergone in February, with skipper Rohit stating that he would not want an “undercooked” version of him in Australia for the marquee five-Test series.
The 34-year-old’s successful return in Indore, however, his boosted his chances of boarding the flight to Australia at some point later this month or in December, possibly in the same flight as Rohit.
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Ganguly for one felt Shami did not need to play in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in order to further prove his fitness, and that he was ready to board the “next flight” to Australia.
“Absolutely. He must go. He doesn’t need to play the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He should do to Australia by the next flight. Go and bowl in the nets. Even if he doesn’t play in Perth, he will get to bowl and get ready,” Ganguly added.
The first Test between India and Australia gets underway on 22 November at Perth’s Optus Stadium, which will be followed by a pink-ball match in Adelaide. Brisbane is scheduled to host the third Test while Melbourne and Sydney will host the Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests, as is the tradition on the Australian summer of cricket.