Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, is set to rejoin the squad in Australia on Tuesday after returning to India for personal reasons. His absence spanned the period following the first Test in Perth, which concluded on November 25. Gambhir departed the next day, November 26, missing India’s subsequent two-day practice match against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra. That game was reduced to a limited-overs contest due to rain but ended with a six-wicket victory for India.
Coaching Team Steps Up in Gambhir’s Absence
During Gambhir’s absence, the coaching staff, including Abhishek Nayar, Ryan ten Doeschate, and Morne Morkel, took charge of training and oversaw the Canberra match. Notable performances in the game came from Harshit Rana, who bagged four wickets for 44 runs, and Shubman Gill, who scored a brisk 50 off 62 balls.
Crucial Decisions Await Gambhir’s Return
Gambhir’s return comes at a pivotal time as the team prepares for the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a day-night match starting on December 6 in Adelaide. The Indian team faces challenging decisions about the playing XI.
Rohit Sharma, the regular Test captain, has rejoined the squad after missing the first Test to be with his wife for the birth of their second child. During his absence, Jasprit Bumrah led the team to a commanding 295-run victory in Perth.
Shubman Gill, who fractured his right thumb during a training session and missed the first Test, is now available for selection. This adds to the complexity of finalizing the lineup, especially given the strong performances of current openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, who put up a double-century stand in the second innings at Perth.
Potential Playing XI Adjustments
India could potentially include Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, replacing Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel, who played in the first Test. However, the question of the opening pair remains unresolved. Indications from the pink-ball practice match suggest that Jaiswal and Rahul might retain their opening roles, with Gill slotting in at No. 3 and Rohit moving to the middle order behind Virat Kohli.
Rishabh Pant remains a confirmed presence in the middle order, offering stability and firepower. With Gambhir’s guidance, the team is likely to refine its strategy and optimize the lineup for the conditions in Adelaide.
India’s preparations for the day-night Test are gaining momentum, and Gambhir’s return adds experience and leadership to the camp as they aim to maintain their winning streak in the series.