India vs Australia Rohit & Ishant doubtful : With each passing day, Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma are getting doubtful for the Australia tour. Now it is learnt that both are unlikely to board the flight for Australia. Both are currently at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru under rehab – but team management in Australia is clueless about the progress they are making.
InsideSport has reliably learnt that neither BCCI nor anyone from NCA has communicated with Coach Ravi Shastri about the status of Rohit and Ishant’s availability. The situation made Shastri to say, “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. 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.
“It’s a similar case (Ishant’s injury) to Rohit. You don’t really know how quickly he’ll be available to fly out. Like I said, if anyone has to play in the Test series, he has to be on the flight in the next four or five days. Otherwise, it’s very difficult,” Shastri told ABC Sports.
A 14-day quarantine period is mandatory upon reaching Australia and the first Test in Adelaide commences on December 17. But it’s a four-Test series and both Rohit and Ishant could be available for the Boxing Day Test onwards even if they don’t fly out in the next few days.
InsideSport has learnt that Shastri and captain Kohli is not too amused by the lack of communication by anyone from BCCI on the issues. InsideSport tried reaching out to BCCI Sec and other officials but were told they stayed incommunicado.
India vs Australia : Team management want Shreyas Iyer to be included in the test team as cover for Rohit
Rohit has scored 556 runs, including two centuries and a double century, in his last five Tests after he started opening the innings and if he can’t make it – it will be a big blow for team India. With the availability of Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma for the first Test in Australia becoming uncertain by the day, the Indian team management is planning to request BCCI to include Shreyas Iyer in the test squad.
Though it will be ultimately BCCI’s selection committee which will take the call on any replacement for Rohit or Ishant – but team management is likely to request for Iyer to stay back after completion of the white-ball tour.
Meanwhile, the Indian team management is also contemplating retaining a fast-bowler from the white-ball squad for the Tests as a cover for Ishant who is struggling with rib cage injury., However, it is yet to be seen who will be the top contender for the position.
The final decision on Rohit and Ishant’s availability can come in on today.