India head coach Gautam Gambhir is set to rejoin the team in Australia on Tuesday after briefly returning to India for personal reasons, according to ESPNcricinfo. His absence coincided with India’s two-day match against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra, which concluded on Sunday.
In Gambhir’s absence, the coaching trio of Abhishek Nayar, Ryan ten Doeschate, and Morne Morkel managed the team’s training and preparations. India secured a six-wicket victory in the match, with Shubman Gill delivering a commanding unbeaten 50 and pacer Harshit Rana impressing with figures of 4/44.
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As Gambhir rejoins the team, he faces a selection challenge with the availability of captain Rohit Sharma and opener Shubman Gill for the second Test. Both were unavailable for the opening Test in Perth—Rohit due to the birth of his second child and Gill due to a hand injury sustained in training.
In their absence, Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel filled the batting void, while KL Rahul was promoted to open the innings. Rahul made the most of the opportunity, scoring 26 in the first innings and a composed 77 in the second, leaving Gambhir with tough decisions ahead of the pink-ball Test in Adelaide.
India enters the second Test with a 1-0 lead in the series after a commanding 295-run victory in Perth. The team overcame early setbacks, including being outplayed in the first two sessions of the opening day, to stage a remarkable comeback.
Also See: India vs Australia Schedule, Match Dates, Timing and Venues
Jasprit Bumrah spearheaded the bowling attack in the absence of Rohit Sharma, who also serves as the designated captain. Bumrah’s exceptional performance helped India dominate Australia and turn the match around.
With Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill set to return, Gambhir must decide on the batting combination that best suits the conditions in Adelaide. The second Test, played under lights with the pink ball, begins on December 6.
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