Sunil Gavaskar has said that if India captain Rohit Sharma is not playing the series opener in Australia during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy then vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah should lead the side for the entire tour.
The former captain said Rohit, whenever he comes in, should participate in the series only as a player.
The Australia tour for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy begins on November 22 in Perth and Rohit is likely to miss the first match because of personal reasons. He is expected to join the team from the second game of the series.
Rohit is, however, not sure about his schedule yet.
“Not sure whether I will be going, fingers crossed,” Rohit said after the third Test against New Zealand at the Wankhede.
“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 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.”
Rohit has been in terrible form of late as he has scored less than 100 runs in the
three Tests against New Zealand at home.
The 37-year-old has already admitted that he was not at his best as both captain and batter, and that his team “failed as a unit” because they made “lots of mistakes”.
“I fully take the responsibility for that as a captain and as a leader as well. I have not been at the best of my abilities,” Rohit said after the 0-3 whitewash.
The Indian team needs four wins from the five Tests in Australia to qualify for the World Test Championship final.
Gavaskar said India cannot qualify for the WTC final from here.
“No, I don’t. I actually don’t (think they can make it). India cannot beat Australia 4-0 in the Test series. I’d be very, very... I’d be over the moon. If they do that, I would be over the moon if they do that. But 4-0.
“India can win 3-1, 4-0 is... don’t talk about the World Test Championship final. Now just focus on trying to win the series in Australia. Never mind whether you win 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 3-1, 2-1. But go and win. Because that is how all of us Indian cricket fans are going to be back to feeling good again,” Gavaskar said.
Asked if the clock is ticking for Rohit and Virat Kohli, he said: “It’s ticking for everybody. It’s not just them. But because they are in their 30s, mid-30s, it will be tougher for them than the guys in the early 20s or early 30s.
“But the clock is ticking for everybody. Which is why I say, the more you are playing, the more you will be prepared to meet the demands of modern-day cricket.”
On Rohit and Kohli’s failure with the bat, Gavaskar said: “Totally understandable... This is one of those rare series where both of them have not been able to score runs. Don’t forget, Kohli got a 70 in the second innings in Bengaluru. It’s just one of those rarities where both these stalwarts have not been able to make significant contributions,” he added.
He said a bad patch happens with everyone and how the player comes back from that phase will tell how good he is.
“What we are going to see in Australia is really going to be interesting. What we are going to see in Australia will determine the future of the Test team.
“Definitely yes. If they don’t score runs in Australia, there will be a clamour for a new-look Indian team to start from the tour of England,” he added.
On Gautam Gambhir’s stint, Gavaskar said the numbers tell the story.
“The results speak for themselves. Even in Sri Lanka, India lost an ODI series after a long time. And now here, it’s a loss, it’s a terrible loss. So, I think the results speak for themselves,” he said.
