New Delhi (India): India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, is set to rejoin the touring party in Australia on Tuesday after returning to India for personal reasons. According to ESPNcricinfo, Gambhir had to miss India’s two-day match against Prime Minister’s XI, which was played on Saturday and Sunday. He had left Australia on November 26 but is now returning to resume his role.
India’s Performance Without Gambhir
In Gambhir’s absence, the coaching staff, including Abhishek Nayar, Ryan ten Doeschate, and Morne Morkel, took charge of the team’s training and the two-day match in Canberra. Despite the absence of their head coach, India emerged victorious by six wickets in the match, with Shubman Gill leading the charge with a blistering 50*. Harshit Rana also impressed with the ball, picking up 4/44 to stifle the Prime Minister’s XI.
Selection Dilemma for Gambhir
Gambhir’s return comes at a crucial time, as India prepares for the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide. He faces a selection headache with the availability of two key players—captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill—who were both absent from the opening Test.
Rohit missed the first Test due to the birth of his second child, while Gill was sidelined after injuring his hand in training. In their absence, Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel were brought into the squad, with KL Rahul moving to the opening slot. Rahul made the most of the opportunity, scoring 26(74) in the first innings and a more composed 77(176) in the second.
With Rohit returning to the squad, Gambhir must now consider the best combination for the second Test. India is currently leading the series 1-0 after a dominant 295-run victory in Perth. The second Test, which will be played with a pink ball, is scheduled to begin in Adelaide soon.