Rohit Sharma to Miss Initial Departure to Australia Ahead of Test Series Due to Personal Reasons

Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma will not be travelling to Australia with the rest of the squad ahead of the first Test in the highly anticipated five-match series, according to a report by RevSportz. The team is scheduled to depart in two batches on Sunday and Monday, but Rohit’s departure is delayed due to "personal reasons."

While there is no definitive word on his participation in the first Test, doubts linger, especially after Rohit himself admitted uncertainty regarding his availability for the game set to begin on November 22 at Perth's Optus Stadium. Head coach Gautam Gambhir is expected to address the situation during a pre-departure press conference in Mumbai on Monday.

In Rohit's potential absence, vice-captain and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is expected to lead the team. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has expressed confidence in Bumrah’s leadership abilities, although he acknowledged that captaincy alongside bowling could be challenging. "That [captaincy] is probably the hardest thing for him," Ponting said on the ICC Review podcast, adding that Bumrah's experience would be vital for managing both responsibilities effectively.

If Rohit Sharma is unable to play, the team will rely on Bumrah's leadership and the seasoned experience of other players to steer the Indian side in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener.