Rohit Sharma should leave for Perth as soon as possible: Sourav Ganguly

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly wants Rohit Sharma to catch a flight to Australia as soon as possible.

Speaking ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Ganguly said that he wants Rohit Sharma to play the opening Test match in Perth because the team needs leadership. India captain Rohit Sharma is unlikely to play the opening Test match. Rohit welcomed his second child with Ritika Sajdeh on Friday, November 15. According to reports the birth of his second child was expected to be closer to the dates of the Test match.

Which would have meant that Rohit was going to stay with his family during that time. Speaking to RevSportz ahead of the series, Ganguly said that given Rohit’s wife has already delivered the child, the opener could travel to Australia and get ready on time for the opening Test.

“I hope Rohit Sharma goes very soon, because the team needs leadership. I believe his wife has delivered a baby boy yesterday night so I am sure he can leave. He can leave as early as possible and if I was in his position, he should be playing the Perth Test,” Ganguly told RevSportz.

“The match is a week away. Because it is a big series, he will not go to Australia after this, he is a fantastic captain. India needs his leadership to start with,” the former India captain added.

AUS vs IND: Top Order Stretched Thin
India were dealt a telling blow on Saturday, November 16 after star top-order batter Shubman Gill sustained a left thumb fracture which is likely to rule him out of the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Optus Stadium in Perth, starting November 22. Gill, one of the young heroes of India’s last Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph, is a batting mainstay and in case skipper Rohit Sharma opts out of the first Test, India’s top-order could look very thin.

Gill got hurt while fielding on the second day of the intra-squad match simulation. He was seen in considerable pain and immediately left the field for further scans. According to a BCCI source privy to the development, Gill has indeed fractured his left thumb and with less than a week left for the Test to start, it will be near impossible for the stylish right-hander to get fit in time for the opening match.

A thumb fracture generally takes around 14 days to heal after which one is expected to start his regular net sessions. Since the second Test in Adelaide starts from December 6, there remains a possibility that he will get fit in time for that match. Gill’s absence could be massive for the national team as he is not only a stable number three batter but in case of Rohit’s absence, he could be considered for opening the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal.

The other man in contention, KL Rahul, has a bruised elbow after getting hit by a Prasidh Krishna short ball on the opening day of the intra-squad match and was forced to leave the field. Rahul’s bruised area needed icing and he didn’t take the field on the second day of the match simulation on Saturday although it is being seen more as a precautionary measure.

In case Gill is absent, Abhimanyu Easwaran could be in line for his Test debut as India do not have too many options left. However, if skipper Rohit, who was blessed with a baby boy, decides to join forces with three days of training, then it would be a different story.