Hitman is back! ‘Captain’ Rohit Sharma departs for BGT to boost Jasprit Bumrah-led India

Here comes the “real” captain! Yes, Rohit Sharma has finally left for Australia, ending his long wait to join Team India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). It was previously reported that the Hitman would join his side on Day 3 of the ongoing opening BGT Test in Perth. And now, Rohit has duly stayed true to his word, departing from the Mumbai airport on Saturday night (November 23).

Team India have performed exceedingly well in Perth against Australia so far. After 17 wickets on Day 1, Indian openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal broke all kinds of records with their splendid unbeaten opening stand of 172 runs. India are on top, having taken a superb 218-run lead so far. And we still have three days left in the game.

While the third day is not to be a massive, moving day of a red-ball game, the date also coincides with the much-awaited IPL 2025 auctions. The mega auction will be held in Jeddah on November 24-25. While Rohit doesn’t have much to do with the auction (as he is already retained at MI), this will be a massive boost for Jasprit Bumrah, the stand-in skipper.

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When Rohit Sharma was blessed with a baby boy on November 15, we expected him to be available for the opening Test. But then, the modern-day legend decided to stay back with his family at this crucial time. But now, Rohit’s arrival in Australia during the first Test means that he will definitely play the second Test. Prior to the 2nd Test in Adelaide, India will play a two-day practice match against Prime Ministers XI in Canberra to prepare for the pink-ball Test.

In the first Test, Jasprit Bumrah is captaining the team in Rohit’s absence. He had mentioned earlier in the day that he was in contact with the regular captain. “I spoke with Rohit earlier. But I got a little bit of clarity on leading the side after coming in here,” Bumrah said in the press conference on the eve of the start of Perth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.