Watch: Rohit Sharma jets off to Australia to join rest of India squad for Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Rohit Sharma. (Source –
boriamajumda/Instagram)

Indian captain Rohit Sharma was spotted at Mumbai’s International Airport on November 23 as he flew out to join the national squad in Australia for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The skipper departed for the tour after a brief delay, as he remained in the country to welcome his second child. 

The 37-year-old was spotted with his wife, Ritika Sajdeh, who had come at the airport to drop him off. Sharma, who was seen at the departure gate, took a few photos with lucky fans and signed autographs. The fans were also heard wishing him luck for the big tour.

He is expected to reach Perth on November 24, coinciding with the third day of the ongoing first Test at Optus Stadium. The opener is set to resume his captaincy duties from the second Test, scheduled at Adelaide Oval from December 6-10.

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I spoke with Rohit earlier: Jasprit Bumrah

Sharma will not dive straight into Test cricket. Instead, he will participate in a warm-up fixture, a day-night practice game between India A and the Prime Minister’s XI at Manuka Oval, Canberra, from November 30 to December 1. This match will be a much-needed practice for the captain and the team before he leads them in Adelaide.

The Indian squad’s journey to Australia was initially organized in three separate contingents between November 9 and 11. However, the birth of his baby boy on November 15 made Sharma alter his schedule. This was handled smoothly by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), with Sharma keeping the board informed about his plans. The interim captain, Jasprit Bumrah mentioned maintaining regular communication with Sharma.

“I spoke with Rohit earlier. But I got a little bit of clarity on leading the side after coming in here,” Bumrah said in the press conference on the eve of the start of the Perth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The Indian team, currently under Bumrah in Perth, has shown their dominance in the opening Test. India has put themselves in a comfortable position, with a 218-run lead at the end of Day 2, thanks to a brilliant opening partnership between KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal.