Sunil Gavaskar backs Jasprit Bumrah as Test captain for entire Australia tour in Rohit Sharma’s initial absence (Source – Getty Images)
India captain Rohit Sharma is still not sure about his participation in the first Test against Australia at Perth, starting on November 22. The 37-year-old has conveyed the same to the BCCI officials and for the same reason, Abhimanyu Easwaran has been added as the third opener for the series. Meanwhile, former India international Sunil Gavaskar feels that in case Rohit misses out on the first Test of the series, he should allow his deputy, Jasprit Bumrah to lead the entire series.
Explaining it, the 75-year-old stated that the makeshift captain will be under tremendous pressure ahead of the first Test in Australia. India recently suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat at home to New Zealand and that won’t make it easy. For the same reason, he advised the team management to consider Bumrah for all five matches, if Rohit is unavailable for the first Test itself.
“It is important for the captain to play the first Test match. It’s different if he is injured, but if he is not available, then the deputy leader will be under a lot of pressure,” Gavaskar said on Sports Tak.
“I have been reading that Rohit Sharma might not play the first two Tests of the Australia series. I feel that, in that case the selection committee should appoint Jasprit Bumrah the captain of the side for the entire Australia tour, and tell Rohit Sharma that you will participate as a player in this series. For the first Test match, Rohit Sharma has to be there,” he added.
India cannot beat Australia 4-0 in the Test series: Gavaskar
India need a 4-0 win over Australia to guarantee their place in the World Test Championship final (WTC). However, Gavaskar feels that the visitors won’t be able to achieve such feet in Down Under. However, he wants the players to forget about the WTC standing and scenario and focus on beating Australia and making the country proud.
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“No, I don’t. I actually don’t. India cannot beat Australia 4-0 in the Test series. If they do that, I would be over the moon if they do that. But 4-0. India can win 3-1, 4-0 is, don’t talk about the World Test Championship final. Now just focus on trying to win the series in Australia. Never mind whether you win 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 3-1, 2-1. But go and win. Because that is how all of us Indian cricket fans are going to be back to feeling good again,” Gavaskar concluded.