With speculations rising over Rohit Sharma‘s availability for the first test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, Sunil Gavaskar urges selectors to proactively name Jasprit Bumrah as the captain for the entire series.
This development comes after Rohit Sharma is likely to miss one of the first two tests against Australia for personal reasons. Reports indicate that Rohit Sharma is expecting a second child, which could potentially sideline him for the Perth opener.
The excitement is evident as the fiercest rivals will be clashing once again in the highly anticipated Border Gavaskar Trophy. After a 0-3 home series whitewash at the hands of New Zealand, Gavaskar proposed that the Indian team must be united under one captain for the entire series.
He stated that the vice-captain should be made the captain for the entire series. “We have been reading that Rohit Sharma will not play in the first Test, perhaps he will not play in the second as well.”
“If this is the case, then I say that, right now, the Indian selection committee should say that ‘if you have to rest, rest, if there are personal reasons then look at them.”
“But if you are missing two-thirds of the matches then you should go for this tour only as a player. We will make the vice-captain the captain of this tour’,” said Sunil Gavaskar.
“Indian cricket is the most important. I would say that if we had won the New Zealand series 3-0, it would have been a different matter. Because we have lost this series 3-0, there is a need for a captain.”
“The captain has to unite the team. If there is no captain in the beginning, it is better to make someone else the captain,” Sunil Gavaskar further added.
Previously, Bumrah captained India in a test against England in 2022 where three Lions chased down the target of 378 and won the match by seven wickets.
India must need a huge margin win in the series if they have to qualify for the WTC finals. Australia and India are in the top two positions in the WTC points table and the series win by any team could possibly have a major impact on the table.
The five-match test series will kickstart on November 22 while the second test will be played on a day-night format under the stadium lights starting on December 06.
The third test will be played in the Gabba which will be held between December 14-18. The fourth test will be played between December 26-30 at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The fifth and final test at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3-7 will give a promising dramatic conclusion for the exciting contest.
