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.
It has been learnt that the CAC comprising former India cricketers Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjape and Sulakshana Naik, interviewed Gambhir virtually for the first round, and another round of discussion is expected to take place on Wednesday.
With Rahul Dravid set to vacate the position post the ICC men's T20 World Cup 2024, the BCCI had already invited new applicants for the role. The deadline to apply for the role was May 27 but it is still not clear if Gambhir has submitted his application.
Gambhir, who recently guided the Kolkata Knight Riders to a third Indian Premier League title triumph after 10 years, is widely speculated to take over from Dravid once the latter’s tenure culminates at the end of the T20 World Cup.
On Sunday, the triumphant outfit, expectedly drenched in emotion after their third Indian Premier League (IPL) title win, also highlighted the contributions of assistant coach Abhishek Nayar and former captain Dinesh Karthik for shaping the team into a championship-winning force.
Both Gambhir and Cummins have been handed over the reins of their respective sides ahead of this season after both teams endured mid-table finishes over the past few seasons.
