NEW DELHI: Amid contrasting reports over Rohit Sharma‘s availability for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, former Australia captain Aaron Finch backed the star India opener for taking leave due to personal reasons.
Rohit and wife Ritika Sajdeh are expecting their second child and the India captain is likely to miss the Perth Test.
However, former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar recently remarked that if Rohit is not able to make it to the first Test, then the Indian team should appoint a new captain for the entire series.
“We have been reading that Rohit Sharma will not play in the first Test, perhaps he will not play in the second as well. If this is the case, then I say that, right now, the Indian selection committee should say that ‘if you have to rest, rest, if there are personal reasons then look at them. But if you are missing two-thirds of the matches then you should go for this tour only as a player. We will make the vice-captain the captain of this tour’,” Gavaskar had said.
Disagreeing with Gavaskar, Finch backed Rohit, saying that birth of a child is special occasion and Rohit can take all the time he needs.
“I disagree with Sunny on that totally. Rohit Sharma is the captain of the Indian cricket team. If you need to stay at home because your wife is having a baby… that’s such a beautiful moment… and you take all the time that you need in that regard,” Finch said.
On Finch’s comments, Ritika on Friday reacted with a salute emoji, that went viral on social media.
After suffering an unprecedented home whitewash against New Zealand, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, starting on November 22 has become even more crucial for the Indian team.
India now need to win 4 out of the five Tests in the upcoming series to qualify for the World Test Championship final without depending on other teams’ results.