Both Team India and Australia are leaving no stones unturned to prepare for the all-important Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-2025 which is set to start from November 22. But the confusion around Rohit Sharma's availability for the opening Test in Perth kept fans guessing. However, Sports Tak has learnt that Rohit Sharma is set to leave for Australia with Team India's first batch for the crucial series.
Rohit Sharma to travel with first batch of Indian players for Australia
To prepare for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Team India will travel to Australia in two batches. The first group will depart on November 10, followed by the second group on November 11. Due to logistical challenges, it wasn't feasible to book the entire team on a single commercial flight. It has been learnt that the India captain will be leaving for Australia with the first batch of Team India players. However, Rohit leaving with the first batch of the Indian team doesn't confirm his participation in the opening Test against Australia. Reports are circulating that Rohit and his wife Ritika Sajdeh are expecting their second child which is the reason why even Indian captain not sure whether he will play the series opener or not.
After India's recent humiliating Test series defeat against New Zealand, Rohit was asked about his availability for the Perth Test in the post-match press conference, to which he said:
“I am not sure of my availability for the first Test in Perth, Fingers Crossed.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-2025 will decide the fate of both teams as far as WTC 2023-2025 final spot is concerned. India's shock 0-3 series loss to New Zealand, has left them with a herculean task to make it to the WTC final.
How can India make it to WTC final after embarrassing series loss to New Zealand
Following a disappointing 0-3 series loss to New Zealand, India slipped to the second position in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings. The team will now travel to Australia to face the newly crowned WTC leaders in a five-match Test series, starting on November 22nd in Perth.
India's primary goal is to secure one of the top two spots in the WTC standings to qualify for the final in London next year. While they have faced challenges in recent times, they remain a strong contender.
Before the New Zealand series, India required four wins in eight Tests to automatically qualify for the WTC Final. However, the unexpected whitewash by New Zealand disrupted their plans.
To secure a spot in the WTC Final 2025, India will need to win four or five Tests in Australia. A 3-0 series win would likely guarantee their qualification, but the outcome would also depend on New Zealand's performance against England.
If India wins the Australia series 3-0, 3-1, or 4-1, they will secure a spot in the World Test Championship final, provided that England manages to draw at least one Test against New Zealand. However, if India finishes the series with a 2-0 victory, they will need England to defeat New Zealand in at least one of their Tests. In the case of a 3-2 series win for India against Australia, the Men in Blue will require England to beat New Zealand in one Test, as well as Sri Lanka to defeat Australia in one Test, to finish in the top two of the WTC standings.
If India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy series ends with a 2-1 or 1-0 victory, or if the series is drawn 1-1, India will need New Zealand to win at least one Test against England, along with Sri Lanka securing a draw in one of their Tests against Australia, in order to maintain a chance of qualifying for the final.
In the scenario where India draws the series 2-2 with Australia, Rohit Sharma and his team will need New Zealand to win at least one Test against England. Additionally, Sri Lanka will have to beat Australia 2-0 in their home series for India to progress to the WTC Final. Even if India loses the series 3-2, there remains a possibility that they could still make it to the final at Lord’s.
However, these scenarios involve highly unlikely outcomes. India would need New Zealand to win only one Test against England, while South Africa and Sri Lanka would need to lose two of their four Tests.
Even with a 1-3, 1-2, 0-1, or 1-1 series loss to Australia, India could still qualify for the WTC Final. In such a case, India would need England to win the series against New Zealand, Pakistan to whitewash South Africa, Australia to whitewash Sri Lanka, and South Africa and Sri Lanka to share their series 1-1.
If India suffers a 0-3, 0-2, or 1-4 series defeat, they would need England to whitewash New Zealand, Pakistan to whitewash South Africa, Australia to whitewash Sri Lanka, and South Africa and Sri Lanka to share their series 1-1.
A 0-4 or 0-5 series loss to Australia would definitively eliminate India from the WTC Final, regardless of the results of other series.
