KL Rahul to Step Up if Rohit Sharma Misses First Test in Australia: Gambhir

New Delhi, November 11: As Team India gears up for the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the media to clarify contingency plans should captain Rohit Sharma be unavailable for the first Test. Gambhir stated that if Rohit cannot play, KL Rahul is poised to step up.

“If Rohit is not available for the first Test, KL Rahul will step in. We will take a call closer to the match,” Gambhir announced, highlighting Rahul’s adaptability across positions as a major asset for the team.

When asked about the significance of the upcoming series, Gambhir emphasized, “Every series matters when you play for your country. For us, this is a battle between two strong teams, and we’re fully prepared to perform and win.”

KL Rahul’s versatility was highlighted as a key benefit, with Gambhir noting that Rahul can not only open the innings but also play in the middle order or even as a wicketkeeper-batsman if required. “He’s experienced and reliable in multiple roles,” Gambhir added, making Rahul a flexible option to navigate the uncertainties ahead of the first Test.

Rohit’s status remains unconfirmed, but Gambhir assured fans, “We’ll inform everyone as we get closer to the start of the series. We hope he’ll be available.”

The Border-Gavaskar series holds high stakes for India. After a shocking home series loss to New Zealand, India’s path to the World Test Championship (WTC) final has grown tougher. To ensure a spot in London’s WTC final for the third consecutive time, India needs to win the series 4-0.

Series Schedule: The series opener in Perth will be followed by a day-night Test at Adelaide Oval from December 6 to 10. The third Test heads to The Gabba in Brisbane, set for December 14 to 18. The iconic Boxing Day Test in Melbourne from December 26 to 30 will serve as the series’ fourth match, with the grand finale at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7.

India’s Squad for Border-Gavaskar Series:
Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Prasidh Krishna, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar.

Australia Squad for First Test:
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc.

With Gambhir’s strategic outlook, Team India is set to bring fierce competition to Australian soil, promising fans an electrifying series.