Rohit Sharma to miss Sydney Test: The Indian middle-order batsman will not be available for the fourth Test of the series.
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India middle-order batsman Rohit Sharma will miss the fourth Test match of the ongoing Test series as he has flown back to India to be with his wife Ritika Sajdeh, who has delivered a baby girl.
Reports of the same were doing the rounds since morning. With BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) posting an official update about it, the development has been confirmed.
Sharma’s absence has left the Indian team with yet another selection conundrum. Having won the third Test by 137 runs at Melbourne yesterday, the team management would have wanted to continue the winning momentum for the Sydney Test.
“It would’ve been great to have him [Rohit Sharma] around. Tactically, he brings so much to the side and then his batting provides the right kind of balance to the side. But what awaits him is far bigger and more important,” a source was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
Sharma had made a comeback into the Indian Test side in the first Test of the series. Having returned with below par numbers in Adelaide, Sharma missed the Perth Test due to injury.
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Once again recalled into the playing XI, Sharma scored a vital 63* in the first innings, aiding the team to post a match-winning 443-7 dec. in 169.4 overs.
In his absence, India might look to play Hanuma Vihari back at No. 6, opening the batting with one out of Lokesh Rahul, Murali Vijay or Parthiv Patel. If match-fit, all-rounder Hardik Pandya can also be included in the side.
The conditions in Sydney are expected to support spinners. If that remains the case, Ravichandran Ashwin (if fit) can also be recalled into the side.
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