The India U-19 squad on Friday got some “priceless lessons” from Rohit Sharma at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore where the senior team’s white-ball captain is undergoing injury rehabilitation along with teammate Ravindra Jadeja.
Rohit, who has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series in South Africa owing to a left hamstring injury, gave a pep talk to the U-19 boys ahead of the Asia Cup beginning December 23 in the UAE.
Rohit and Jadeja were seen at the NCA with India U-19 captain Yash Dhull in his social media posts. The BCCI also tweeted pictures of Rohit’s session with the squad. Rohit himself played at the U-19 level back in 2006.
“TeamIndia white-ball captain @ImRo45 made most of his rehab time as he addressed India’s U19 team during their preparatory camp at the NCA in Bengaluru,” tweeted BCCI.
Rohit, who was named ODI captain last week replacing Virat Kohli, was to travel to South Africa as vice-captain of the Test team for the series starting on December 26 before the injury ruled him out of the red ball leg of the tour.
He injured himself during a nets session at the Bandra-Kurla complex in Mumbai. His expected recovery time is at least four weeks but Rohit has been advised to take a “go-slow” approach given India’s packed international commitments and his previous injury record in the same area.
Rohit’s absence will be a blow for India in South Africa since he has been their highest Test run-getter in 2021 — 1462 runs in 16 Tests at an average of 58.48, with five centuries, including a match-winning 127 in India’s last Test at The Oval in September.
India A captain Priyank Panchal was named in place of Rohit in the Test squad, which reached South Africa on Thursday for the series.
The senior opener, who took charge as T20I captain against New Zealand last month, is expected to be available to lead the team for the ODI leg of the South Africa tour, which begins on January 19.
Jadeja has been ruled out of the South Africa tour due to a knee injury, which he sustained during the home New Zealand Test series last month. He may take a longer time to recover from his injury.
