Finally, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is here, and everyone is waiting for Indian captain Rohit Sharma as India starts the much-awaited series against Australia in Perth.
The fans have been eager as spectators in the first Test between India and Australia at Optus Stadium to usher in the day when the Indian captain would come back with his men and take charge.
He reached Perth on November 24th for the first Test match against Australia.
He had delayed his journey to be available at his second child’s birth in India on November 15.
Rohit is taking this short break from family commitments.
Test captain Jasprit Bumrah led the team during the series opener.
The series will start with the first Test on November 22, and Bumrah will lead a new-generation Indian team.
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|
| First Test Begins | 22-Nov-2024 | Bumrah leads India in Perth. |
| Rohit’s Arrival | 24-Nov-2024 | Rohit joins the team in Australia. |
| Practice Match | 30-Nov to 1-Dec | Rohit to play against “Prime Minister’s XI”. |
| Second Test Begins | 6-Dec-2024 | Rohit returns as captain in Adelaide Oval. |
Impact of Rohit’s Non-inclusion in the First Test
Image credit: Cricket Fans
As Rohit Sharma steps onto the Adelaide pitch, fans anticipate his calm leadership and batting endurance to counter Australia’s formidable lineup.”
Rohit Sharma’s absence in the first Test was quite a talking point, as calm leadership and vast experience were critical in handling the tough Australian pitches. But with Bumrah, a new approach to the team’s outlook has been added.
Communication with Rohit Sharma has been regular, so all the strategies work well with the series’ overall objectives. And, more than anything else, Team India under Bumrah’s captaincy is keen on delivering a much stronger performance even though Rohit would be missing out temporarily.
Another beneficiary of the series so far has been Mohammed Shami, who is currently doing his domestic cricket practice.
If Shami is included in the playing eleven for the remaining games, it could be a big experience for him, and furthering the force of Indian bowling would be added.
Related Article: The Hitman of Cricket: Rohit Sharma’s Incredible Journey
Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Having Rohit Sharma back for the second test will help build this Indian side. It has become customary to see him handle pressure superbly, and the Indian team will surely need all the backing they can get to hold on to the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
He will take the team through a tough series against an incredibly strong Australian lineup that looks like a who’s who of international stars, including Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, with Nathan McSweeney as his protégé.
India vs. Australia Series So Far
One of the fiercest competitions in cricket, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been granted a new level of significance because of the world points both India and Australia need to garner from this five-Test series.
Australia is coming into the series after two successive losses in their two home series against India.
Their prime objective would be the trophy, as they have a full-strength team in which an opener is making his debut in Nathan McSweeney; he will open along with Usman Khawaja.
On the other hand, Team India arrives in Kolkata with their mixed form, having recently lost a home series 3-0 to New Zealand.
Despite this setback, India’s young guns, along with the experience of players like Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, would form an encompassed team that could spring any surprises.
What the fans can expect from this return.
As Rohit Sharma steps out onto the Adelaide pitch for the second Test, one can expect him to play differently from how he did a few games ago.
His presence would add much-needed stability to the batting lineup while providing Bumrah with another layer of support as he plots against the attack led by Australia.
Rohit’s endurance as a batsman and his smart know-how of situations will be the primary attacking resource against the Australian pacers, even Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, hero Australians who have been quite effective at home many times.
The play for excitement has already been built through the first Test, and Rohit Sharma’s return is expected to amplify that for the remaining matches.
The campaign of India seems to pick up again with the coming back of Rohit Sharma’s leadership, which will be starting from the second test. The series will also keep on with this fight for the battle of supremacy in Test cricket.
Reference: Cricbuzz
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