Gautam Gambhir Confirms Jasprit Bumrah as Potential Captain for India's First Test Against Australia

In a recent press conference in Mumbai before the Indian cricket team's departure for Australia, head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah would step in as captain if Rohit Sharma is unable to participate in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to personal reasons.

“Bumrah is the vice-captain. So obviously he will (captain) if Rohit is not available. He is going to lead in Perth," Gambhir stated to reporters. The initial match of the four-Test series is scheduled for November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia.

Bumrah has previous experience as India's Test captain, having debuted in this role on July 1, 2022, during a rescheduled Test match against England at Edgbaston. Unfortunately, his captaincy debut did not yield a win for India, as the team was ultimately defeated by the English side.

Rohit’s Participation in Doubt
Rohit Sharma, who captained India to a 2-1 victory over Australia in the last Border-Gavaskar series earlier this year, is expected to miss the first Test due to personal commitments. Currently, he is not traveling with the Indian team, although he may join them later in Australia.

When asked about Rohit’s status for the opening Test, Gambhir noted the uncertainty. “At the moment, there is no confirmation. But we guys will let you know exactly what the situation would be. Hopefully, he is going to be available. But everything you will get to know only before the start of the series."

In the event of Rohit's absence, India will need not only a new captain but also an opener. Gambhir mentioned that both KL Rahul and Abhimanyu Easwaran are potential candidates to open the innings if Rohit cannot participate, but the final lineup will be decided closer to the game.

“There’s Abhimanyu Easwaran; there’s KL (Rahul). So we will take a call closer to the first Test match if Rohit is not available. There are quite a few options in the squad. So, once it gets closer to the first Test match, we will plan the best playing XI, which is going to do the job for us," Gambhir explained.