Rohit Sharma needs to leave for Oz in 3-4 days: Shastri

Sydney, November 22

India head coach Ravi Shastri has expressed his apprehensions about senior players Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma’s participation in the upcoming Test series if they don’t reach Australia in the next few days.

Both Rohit (left hamstring) and Ishant (side strain) are at the NCA undergoing rehabilitation, but the BCCI is yet to announce when the duo would reach Australia.

Considering the mandatory 14-day quarantine requirement, it is clear that they would miss the first warm-up game against Australia A on December 6-8, if they don’t depart by Monday. “He (Rohit) was never going to play the white-ball series, they were just looking to see how long he needed the rest, because you can’t afford to be resting for too long,” Shastri told ABC Sport.

“If you need to play in the Test series or any red-ball cricket, you’ve got to be on the flight in the next three or four days. If you aren’t, then it’s going to be tough.”

Shastri said that NCA’s medical team is currently assessing how long would be Rohit’s break from the game. “But things could get difficult if he’s asked to wait for too long, (because) then you’re talking of the quarantine again, which might make it really tough for even him to come just in time for the Test series,” the head coach added. — PTI