Former Australia player Aaron Finch strongly disagreed with Sunil Gavaskar’s recent comment where the latter said that if Rohit Sharma does not play the first Test against Australia then Jasprit Bumrah should be selected captain for the entire series. The India legend also added that Rohit, whenever he comes back, should join up with the squad only as a player.
“It is important for the captain to play the first Test match. It’s different if he is injured, but if he is not available, then the deputy leader will be under a lot of pressure,” Gavaskar had said on Sports Tak.
“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. For the first Test match, Rohit Sharma has to be there,” he added.
Finch, however, said that if Rohit needs to stay back at home due to his wife having a child then he should be given 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’s going to have a baby… that’s such a beautiful moment… and you take all the time that you need in that regard,” Finch said in ESPNCricinfo’s Around the Wicket.
Rohit is expected to miss the first Test of the India-Australia Border Gavaskar Test series, starting November 22, for personal reasons. India take on the Pat Cummins-led side in the first of the five Tests at the Optus stadium in Perth.
After the 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand at home in the Wankhede Stadium, Rohit Sharma was asked about reports floating ahead of this series about him missing the first Test match in Australia because of personal reasons at the press conference. “I am not too sure about Perth. But fingers crossed,” he responded about the November 22-27 fixture.
