India captain Rohit Sharma has finally departed for Australia to join the team for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-2025. Rohit Sharma was spotted at the Mumbai airport on Saturday (November 23) evening. He was also seen hugging his wife Ritika Sajdeh, who came to see him off at the airport.
Rohit Sharma departs for Australia for Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Rohit had stayed back in India to be with his wife for the birth of their second child. However, he had earlier hinted at missing the Perth Test during a media interaction after the New Zealand Test series. While India head coach Gautam Gambhir did not explicitly confirm Rohit's absence before leaving for Australia, it was later confirmed that he would miss the series opener.
Earlier, Cricbuzz reported that, Rohit Sharma is expected to arrive in Australia on Sunday, November 24. He may join the Indian team at the Optus Stadium on the fourth day of the Perth Test.
Meanwhile, Rohit will begin his preparations for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth and then look forward to the day-night Test in Adelaide, which will be Border-Gavaskar Trophy's second Test. Before the second Test, he will also take part in a warm-up game in Canberra against Prime Minister's XI starting on November 30.
In Rohit's absence, Jasprit Bumrah is leading the team in the ongoing first Test which is being played at Perth. It is not the first time Bumrah is leading the India in longest format. He previously led the side in a one-off Test against England in 2022.
Talking about the ongoing first Test between India and Australia in Perth, Bumrah's men hold a commanding lead of 218 runs after the Day 2 stumps. After being bowled out for 150 in their first innings, India's openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal (90*) and KL Rahul (62*), have put on an unbeaten 172-run partnership.
But it was Bumrah, who led from the front when the chips were down for India, taking a five-wicket haul in the first innings to bowl out Australia for 104. Debutant Harshit Rana claimed three wickets, while Mohammed Siraj took two. India gained a 46-run lead after the first innings.
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