Former India cricketer and 1983 World Cup winner, Kirti Azad, stated that India will miss Rohit Sharma‘s leadership in the first Test against Australia in Perth. However, he emphasized that the presence or absence of one player doesn’t define the strength or weakness of a team.
India’s 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign will kick off with the first Test in Perth on Friday, November 22. Rohit will miss the match as he remains in India with his family after the birth of his second child.
In an interview with Timesofindia.com, Azad shared his thoughts on the significance of Rohit’s absence for the upcoming Test. He stated:
“Nobody is weak or strong by one player. But yes, Rohit, being the captain, has led from the front, he will be missed.”
The 65-year-old also acknowledged that the 37-year-old cricketer’s batting form is a worry.
“Yes. It’s a point of worry. And since he’s been the captain for a long time, nobody’s indispensable. But then again, he is the most important cog in the wheel as far as the Indian team is concerned. So we expect him to do well,” Azad opined.
Rohit scored just 91 runs in six innings during the three-match home series against New Zealand, with a highest score of 52. To add to the frustration, India suffered a 3-0 loss, marking their first-ever whitewash in home Tests.
In Rohit’s absence, pacer Jasprit Bumrah will captain the Indian team in Perth. Regarding this, Azad mentioned that a captain’s effectiveness is determined by the situation.
“I played with Kapil Dev, one of the greatest all-rounders in the world. Captaincy never hampered his performances. It depends on the situation. If your team is playing well, and your changes give you results, then you’re a good captain. If it doesn’t give you results, then you’re a bad captain,” the former cricketer elaborated.
Bumrah will captain India in Test cricket for the second time. His first stint as captain came in Birmingham in July 2022 when Rohit tested positive for COVID-19. England won the high-scoring match by seven wickets, successfully chasing 378.
What has been Rohit Sharma’s performance in Test matches in Australia?
Although Rohit will miss the first Test in Perth, India will be optimistic about his availability for the second Test in Adelaide, starting December 6. In his Test career in Australia, the 37-year-old has played 14 innings, scoring 408 runs at an average of 31.38, with three fifties and a top score of 63*.
He will be eager to enhance his record in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
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