Border Gavaskar Trophy: Rohit Sharma available for the India vs Australia Perth Test match? Check details

India captain Rohit Sharma will travel to Australia with the rest of the squad to begin preparations for the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy, a top source confirmed on Friday. Despite his earlier absence being anticipated due to his personal circumstances—he and his wife, Ritika Sajdeh, are expecting their second child—Sharma is expected to join the team ahead of the series. However, the source added that while Sharma will be part of the squad in Australia, his availability for the first Test match in Perth remains uncertain. Sharma, who had previously expressed uncertainty about his participation in the opening Test, was asked about his availability during recent interactions. The captain acknowledged the situation, stating he was hopeful but could not provide a definitive answer regarding his participation for the first match.

Rohit Sharma to play Border Gavaskar Trophy 1st Test match?

With his wife due to give birth soon, the final decision on whether Rohit Sharma will take part in the first Test may depend on personal circumstances closer to the match. This uncertainty regarding Sharma's availability has left the team management in a bit of a bind as they prepare for the challenging Test series against Australia. If Sharma is unavailable for the first match, India may need to rely on alternate options for the opening slot, with several players auditioning for a spot in the lineup.

"He is travelling but his participation in the 1st Test is yet not confirmed. Will see what happens next anything in regards to this. His availability is subject to his personal matter," the source told India Today.

India captain Rohit Sharma has had a hectic few days following India’s shocking home Test series loss to New Zealand. This defeat marked India’s first-ever whitewash in a home Test series, leaving the team and management under immense pressure. In response to the disappointing result, Rohit participated in a six-hour review meeting organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), as reported by the PTI news agency.

The meeting focused on analyzing the series' outcome and understanding what went wrong for India. With the team’s top-order struggles and lack of consistency being major talking points, the BCCI sought feedback from key players, including Rohit, to address the issues that led to the unexpected defeat. The review also aimed to chart a way forward, with the upcoming India vs Australia five-match Test series being a key priority for the Indian team.

The defeat to New Zealand has certainly added to the pressure on the Indian squad, but the review meeting signifies the management's commitment to making necessary improvements. As the Border Gavaskar Trophy approaches, India will look to regroup and put their best foot forward, with Rohit and the team hoping to bounce back from this tough series loss.

"It was a six-hour marathon meeting, which was obviously on cards after such a debacle. India are going on a tour of Australia, and the BCCI would obviously like to ensure that the team is back on track and would like to know how the think-tank (Gambhir-Rohit-Agarkar) are going about it," stated a senior BCCI source.

It has emerged that the Board of Control for Cricket in India was dissatisfied with a few key decisions during India’s recent Test series against New Zealand. One of the main points of contention was the decision to rest pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah  for the third Test, despite his importance to the team. Additionally, the choice to prepare a rank turner for the final Test, after India was thoroughly beaten on a similar surface in Pune, raised eyebrows among BCCI officials.

The review meeting, attended by Rohit Sharma and the other members of the team management, focused on identifying areas for improvement. The team was asked to provide suggestions on corrective measures, especially with regards to tactical decisions such as the team composition and pitch preparation. While it hasn’t been confirmed whether Gautam Gambhir's coaching methods were specifically questioned, sources suggest that there may be some disagreements within the Indian team management. It appears that not everyone in the team’s think tank is aligned with the approach of the chief coach.

"Bumrah's absence was discussed, although it was a precautionary move. Opting for a rank turner despite India not faring well on these tracks are some of the issues that came up for discussion," the source informed.