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Jasprit Bumrah to lead India in first Test against Australia in Rohit Sharma's absence
Indian cricket vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah will lead the side in the inaugural Test match against Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy in absence of skipper Rohit Sharma, said head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Addressing a presser, Gambhir said, "Bumrah is the vice-captain, so obviously he is going to be the captain in Rohit Sharma's absence."
Rohit is set to miss the first Test due to his paternity leave. He is likely to play the rest of the Test matches.
The skipper's absence leaves a void in the opening slot, where Rohit partners with young batter Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Among the players who are likely to replace Rohit in the opening slot are KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran.
"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 said.
🗣️ We are absolutely keen to go out there, perform, and try and win the series
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 11, 2024
Head Coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of #TeamIndia's departure to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.#AUSvIND | @GautamGambhir pic.twitter.com/MabCwkSPGL
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has backed Bumrah, the premier pace bowler of the team, as the leader of the team.
Ponting is hopeful that Bumrah will be able to handle dual responsibilities- captaincy and bowling.
"Yeah, that (captaincy) is probably the hardest thing for him," Ponting said in the ICC Review. "I think that was always the question on Pat Cummins when he became the Australian Test captain as well. How much is he going to bowl himself? Is he going to bowl himself too much? Is he not going to bowl himself enough?
"But someone as experienced as Jasprit will understand the times when he needs to be bowling, when he needs to have a spell."
India's assignment in Australia is set to be a massive challenge as Gambhir's side need to win the five-match series either 4-0 or 4-1 to qualify for the World Test Championship final, which will be held in London next year.
India slumped into this crisis after they were whitewashed at home by New Zealand 0-3 in the recently concluded Test series.
However, Gambhir is only focussing on the Border Gavaskar Trophy. "Honestly, we are not even looking at what is going to happen in the World Test Championship or whether we are going to qualify. Every series is important irrespective of what has happened in the past."
The first Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, which was won by India last time, will begin on November 22 in Perth.
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