Border Gavaskar Trophy: Gautam Gambhir provides captaincy update for Perth Test

As India prepares to face the Kangaroos in the five-match Border Gavaskar Trophy, head coach Gautam Gambhir has come up with some significant updates from within the group. Before the BGT commences on November 22 at Perth, a number of uncertainties were looming regarding the combination that India would play in the opening Test. While Gambhir failed to give a concrete update on the availability of Rohit Sharma for the Perth Test, the head coach named the players who are front-running the race to fill in for the opener.

The Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia is the last tournament that India will play in the ongoing WTC cycle. Before India sustained its first-ever series whitewash at the hands of New Zealand, the team topped the WTC standings. Moreover, the side was the favourite to qualify for the 2025 WTC Final. However, the 0-3 series defeat has pushed their campaign significantly back. Now, India’s hopes for qualification have come down to rely entirely upon the five-match series against the Kangaroos. Moreover, having endured a heavy blow to their Test record recently, India would look to protect their BGT streak, where they have kept Australia from claiming the trophy for a decade now.

Border Gavaskar Trophy: Jasprit Bumrah confirmed to lead if Rohit Sharma misses the Perth Test

There have been days of confusion prevailing about the availability of Rohit Sharma for the Perth Test. An early update about the Border Gavaskar Trophy informed that the Indian skipper could miss the opening fixture due to some ‘personal’ reason. Days after the initial report, it is yet to be confirmed officially by the team. With the final batch of the Indian squad leaving for Perth today, it has been confirmed that the captain will not travel with the team. However, his participation in the Perth Test has not been ruled out so far. While Gambhir didn’t provide clarity over the situation, the head coach explained the plans if Sharma, in fact, marks an absence from the Perth Test.

The Indian head coach confirmed that ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah will lead the team in Sharma’s absence. While India didn’t name a vice-captain for the home series against Bangladesh, their first Test assignment in nine months, Bumrah earned the title ahead of the New Zealand series. Now, with the pacer keeping his position intact, he is next in line for the captaincy role if Rohit Sharma confirms his unavailability for the first fixture of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

“Bumrah is vice-captain. If Rohit Sharma is not available, he is going to lead in Perth,” Gambhir said. “There is no confirmation on Rohit as of now. Hopefully, he will play. We will let you know before the series,” Gambhir updated about Rohit Sharma.

Gautam Gambhir, furthermore, named Abhimanyu Easwaran and KL Rahul as the players who are in contention to take up the opening position alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal if Sharma misses out. Both KL Rahul and Abhimanyu Easwaran played the second unofficial Test between India A and Australia A. While both batters staged disappointments across both batting innings, it is likely for one of them to break into the playing XI for the Perth Test.

"Obviously, there is Easwaran there, there is KL [Rahul] there," he pointed out. "So we will take a call closer to the first Test match if Rohit is not available. There are options there. It's not that there are no options; there are quite a lot of options in the squad. So once it gets closer to the first Test match, we'll try and play the best playing XI who is going to do the job for us."

Gautam Gambhir backs KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma ahead of Border Gavaskar Trophy

Amidst roaring criticism of KL Rahul over his lack of form, Gautam Gambhir justified his decision to back the batter in the team despite his consistent failures. KL Rahul, who was sent early to Australia to play in the unofficial India A vs Australia A, failed to impress there too. Departing at low scores of 4 and 10 in subsequent innings, Rahul staged a weird dismissal as he looked confused while countering a delivery by spinner Corey Rocchiccioli. Despite the setback, KL Rahul is a front-runner to take up the opening role in the Perth Test if Rohit Sharma confirms his unavailability.

"I think that is the quality of the man, that he can actually bat at the top of the order, he can bat at number three, and he can actually bat at number six as well," Gambhir said. "So you need quite a lot of talent to be doing these kinds of jobs as well. And he's kept wickets in the one-day format as well. So imagine how many countries have players like KL, who can actually open the batting and can bat at number six as well. So I feel that if need be, I think he can do the job for us, especially if Rohit is not available for the first Test match,” he added.

The Indian head coach, moreover, dashed any ounce of doubt that prevails over the lack of form of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Gambhir noted that both batters have achieved a lot for the team over the years.  "I've got no concerns whatsoever for Virat and Rohit, I think they are incredibly tough men," he observed. Moreover, he stated that the prolific players are working hard and are quite passionate to keep their brilliance growing. The former batter acknowledged that the whole squad, including Kohli and Rohit, are hungry to claim a favourable outcome in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. As long as the quest to perform is there, there is nothing to irk Gautam Gambhir about the side.