Rohit Sharma will miss the New Year Test against Australia, beginning on January 3, owing to the birth of his daughter. He will return to Australia to join the ODI squad on January 8 ahead of the three-match series that begins on January 12, the BCCI announced on Monday (December 31).
India haven’t named any replacement for Rohit in the Test squad in Australia. Rohit had scored a crucial half-century in the first innings of the Melbourne Test, which India won by 137 runs to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
In Rohit’s absence, India may include Hardik Pandya, who joined the squad ahead of the third Test, or go in with two spinners depending on the nature of the SCG wicket. Tim Paine, the Australia skipper, had suggested that a dry Sydney pitch might excite India, with the hosts themselves going in for an extra spin option in the form of Marnus Labuschagne. “We’re hearing it’s probably going to be a little bit dry (at the SCG)… I’m sure India will be really looking forward to it,” Paine had told Macquarie Radio.
Having not included a single spinner during the Perth Test, India roped in Ravindra Jadeja for the MCG game with R Ashwin missing two matches due to a side strain. India’s premier offspinner is likely to slot in directly should he regain full fitness, in which case the visitors might go in with one batsman less for the final game of the Test series. Apart from Ashwin, India also have the option of going in with chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav.
They also have the option of moving Hanuma Vihari down the order and go in with one of KL Rahul and Murali Vijay, although their uninspiring numbers had led to their axe for the previous game. Rahul and Vijay, between them, scored only 97 runs in eight innings, forcing India to go in with debutant Mayank Agarwal for the Melbourne game, along with Vihari for company at the opening position. Earlier, young opener Prithvi Shaw was ruled out of the series due to an ankle injury while Rohit himself was forced to miss the Perth Test due to a lower back issue.
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