India’s top-order set for rejig as Rohit, Shubman to miss first Test
With three days remaining for the opening Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth, the Indian think tank led by head coach Gautam Gambhir has been challenged on several fronts.
With three days remaining for the opening Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth, the Indian think tank led by head coach Gautam Gambhir has been challenged on several fronts.
“Their last two series wins out here they had Ravi Shastri who was fantastic,” Paine said.
While Gambhir is hopeful of Rohit’s availability, he is also happy with the options — both from an opening and leadership standpoint, in case Rohit doesn’t make it.
“What does Ponting have to do with Indian cricket? I think he should think about Australian cricket. More importantly, I have got no concerns whatsoever for Virat and Rohit,” Gambhir said in the press conference ahead of the team’s departure for a challenging five-Test tour to Australia.
Despite the heavy backlash following the series loss, head coach Gautam Gambhir showed no signs of concern, shrugging off all the uproar at the pre-departure presser on Monday.
The retirements of stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja from T20Is aside, a major change that affects the team across all three formats came when Dravid decided not to extend his tenure due to family commitments.
Gautam Gambhir’s name has been a constant in all conversations surrounding the next coach of the Indian men’s national cricket team.
Gambhir beat competition from former India cricketer WV Raman, who also was a candidate for the top post.
Gambhir, when asked about his chances of succeeding Dravid for the top post, chose to remain noncommittal, adding to the mystery surrounding the potential coaching change.
Recalling his interaction with Gambhir during his first full Test series for India in 2012, Ashwin revealed that the opening batter was one of the very few from outside his home state of Tamil Nadu to give him a lot of confidence as a new-comer.
