Sourav Ganguly advises Rohit Sharma to make himself available for the first Test against Australia

New Delhi: Former BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has advised India captain Rohit Sharma to consider playing in the first Test against Australia, scheduled to commence on November 22 in Perth. Rohit, who recently became a father for the second time with the arrival of his baby boy on Friday, had informed the BCCI in advance about the possibility of a delayed travel to Australia and potential uncertainty regarding his availability for the opening match at the Optus Stadium. Ganguly has urged Rohit to try and make it to the game if possible.

The Indian team management is actively searching for a replacement at the top of the order as uncertainty looms over Rohit Sharma’s participation in the first Test, scheduled to begin next Friday.

However, Ganguly believes that India needs Rohit Sharma’s leadership and stated that, if he were in Rohit’s position, he would have played the match, as there is still sufficient time for Rohit to travel to Australia.

“I hope Rohit goes soon as the team needs leadership. I heard his wife delivered a baby boy, so I am sure he can leave (for Australia) as soon as possible. If I was in his position, he should be playing the 1st Test. It’s a big series and the match is still a week away. He will not go to Australia after this. He’s a fantastic captain. India needs his leadership,” Ganguly told RevSportz in an interview.

Rohit Sharma’s return would provide a significant boost for India, particularly amid reports that young batter Shubman Gill is likely to miss the first Test due to a fractured thumb sustained during an intra-squad practice match.

Gill, who has been India’s regular No. 3 batter in Tests over the past year, was a strong contender for the opening spot alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal if Rohit Sharma were to miss the game.

This situation could become pivotal if skipper Rohit Sharma, who announced the birth of his second child with his wife Ritika on Saturday, is unavailable for the first Test. It remains uncertain whether Rohit will travel to Perth and take part in the match.

Meanwhile, KL Rahul, another seasoned opening option for India, suffered a setback on day one of the simulation match after being hit on the elbow by a short delivery. He did not return to the field for the rest of the day and remained unavailable on Saturday as well.

Bengal batter Abhimanyu Easwaran, despite a lackluster performance in the India A vs. Australia A series with scores of 0, 7, 17, and 12, remains a potential candidate for the opening role.

In the simulation match, Shubman Gill scored 28 in his first innings before being caught at gully off a delivery from Navdeep Saini. He later returned to the crease and remained unbeaten on 42*. The young batter aims to emulate Cheteshwar Pujara’s approach, known for tiring out Australian bowlers with his steadfast defense.