India head coach Gautam Gambhir will temporarily leave the team in Australia to attend to personal matters. As per a report in The Indian Express, the former opening batter will fly back home on Tuesday and is expected to rejoin the squad before the second Test, which begins on December 6 in Adelaide.
India secured a dominant 295-run victory in the first Test in Perth, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The team will now head to Canberra on Wednesday to prepare for a two-day pink-ball practice match against the Prime Minister’s XI, scheduled for November 30.
It remains uncertain whether Gambhir will oversee the practice game or not. In his absence, the Indian support staff, including assistant coaches Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate, bowling coach Morne Morkel, and fielding coach T Dilip, will manage the team’s training sessions alongside captain Rohit Sharma.
“Gambhir has informed us that he needs to travel back home for personal reasons, and the BCCI has approved his request. He will return in time for the second Test,” a source told The Indian Express.
Rohit Sharma Arrives in Australia
Meanwhile, India captain Rohit Sharma, who missed the Perth Test following the birth of his second child, has joined the team in Australia. Rohit sat alongside Gambhir in the dressing room on Day 4 of the first Test and practiced with the pink ball during the lunch break.
Former Australia opener David Warner, who was commentating for Fox Cricket, covered Rohit’s practice session in the nets. Warner noted, “The Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, has just arrived in the country, and he’s looking sharp in the nets. He’s preparing for the pink-ball Test starting December 6 in Adelaide.”
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also shared footage of Rohit batting confidently in the nets, where he faced deliveries from teammates, including pacer Mukesh Kumar.
With a commanding lead in the series, India aims to maintain momentum as they prepare for the upcoming challenges.
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