In what can be a huge blow to Team India, captain Rohit Sharma is likely to miss one of the first two Test matches on the upcoming tour of Australia (BGT 2024). India is slated to play five Tests for the first time since 1991-92 season down under.

The series is also important as it will decide India’s fate in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC 2025) cycle.

As per PTI report, Rohit Sharma has informed BCCI that due to pressing personal reasons, he might give either the first Test in Perth (November 22-26) or the second game in Adelaide (December 6-10) a miss.

“There isn't any complete clarity about the situation. It is understood that Rohit has intimated to the BCCI that there is a possibility that due to a pressing personal matter, he might have to skip one of the two Tests at the beginning of the series. In case, the personal issue is sorted before the start of the series, he might play all five Tests. We will get to know more in coming days" a BCCI source told PTI.

Rohit Sharma is expected to play all three Tests against New Zealand at home starting October 16 onwards.

If Rohit misses a Test match in Australia, the in-form Abhimanyu Easwaran is likely to fill in, though Shubman Gill and KL Rahul are other experienced openers. Easwaran will also be in Australia with the India A team, which he is expected to head.

However, there is no information on who will be the Test team's vice-captain, as Rohit did not have a formal deputy during the last home series against Bangladesh.

There are three candidates for the role -- Rohit's white ball deputy Gill, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who has led India in a Test in England, and keeper-batter Rishabh Pant.

(PTI inputs)