Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has sensationally claimed that Rohit Sharma should be stripped of the Indian captaincy, after choosing to stay home for the birth of his second child.
While coach Gautam Gambhir is hopeful the 37-year-old will be in Australia in time, selectors are yet to confirm if he will be available for the opening Test in Perth on November 22.
Gavaskar wants selectors to take the skipper’s role off Sharma entirely if he is unable to play in the first match and give it to vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah, who’s expected to take over if the opening batsman is not able to play.
“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 have been reading that Rohit Sharma might not play the first two Tests of the Australia series.
“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.
“Because we have lost this series 0-3 [against New Zealand], there is a need for a captain.
“The captain has to unite the team. If there is no captain in the beginning (against Australia), it is better to make someone else the captain.”
(Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
Shama personally has been out of form, managing just 91 runs in six innings hitting just eight runs during the second Test, with just one half-century in his last five Test appearances.
But former Australian captain Aaron Finch did not support Gavaskar’s comments saying more understanding should be given for one of his family’s most important occasions.
“I disagree with Sunny on that totally,” Finch said to ESPN’s Around the Wicket.
“Rohit Sharma’s the captain of the Indian cricket team.
“If you need to stay at home because your wife’s having a baby – that’s such a beautiful moment, you take all the time that you need in that regard.”
Despite holding the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India comes to Australia under pressure, looking to bounce back following their huge 3-0 series defeat by New Zealand at home.
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