Indian skipper mystery ahead of Australia clash

Indian captain Rohit Sharma is no guarantee to play in the first Test against Australia in Perth, with coach Gautam Gambhir unable to confirm the skipper would be ready as his team departed for the blockbuster Border-Gavaskar series.

Reports out of India revealed that Sharma, 37, who was in charge for the historic series loss to New Zealand, was in doubt due to personal reasons choosing to stay at home for the imminent birth of his second child as his teammates left for Australia.

At his departure press conference, Gambhir confirmed that fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah would captain India should Sharma continue to be unavailable, with KL Rahul, already in Australia with India A, a potential opening replacement.

“We will let you know exactly what the situation will be. Hopefully, he’s going to be available, but everything we’re going to get to know at the start of the series,” Gambhir said.

“We will take a call closer to the first Test match if Rohit is not available.

“There are options there, it’s not that there are no options there. There are quite a few options in the squad.

“Once it gets closer to the first Test match, we’ll plan and play the best playing XI that’s going to do the job for us.

“(Jasprit) Bumrah is the vice-captain, so obviously he will (be the captain) if Rohit is not available.”

The majority of the squad was set to leave India on Monday afternoon for the five-match series that begins on November 22 and Sharma’s absence form the group moved Indian legend, Sunil Gavaskar to declare he should be dumped as skipper.

“It is important for the captain to play the first Test match,” Gavaskar said on Sports Tak.

“It’s different if he is injured, but if he is not available, then the deputy leader will be under a lot of pressure.

“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.”

But as refused to put a line through Sharma just yet, Gambhir also said he had “no issues at all” with the form of his captain and master batter Virat Kohli who struggled against the Kiwis.

Sharma made just 91 runs in the three matches and Kohli 93, both batters averaging only 15 ahead of the trip to Australia.

But Gambhir slapped down criticism of the veteran duo from Ricky Ponting adamant the batters,who have 41 Test centuries between them, were “working very hard” on their batting and still had the drive to succeed.

“What does Ponting have to do with Indian cricket? I think he should think about Australian cricket,“ Gambhir said.

“We have no concerns about Virat and Rohit. I think they’re incredibly tough men, they’ve achieved a lot for Indian cricket and they will continue to achieve a lot in the future as well.

“I think the most important thing for me is they still work very hard, they’re still passionate and they still want to achieve a lot more. The hunger in the dressing room is incredibly important for me and for the entire group of people, especially what has happened in the last series.”

India has won the past two series against Australia in Australia.