India head coach Gautam Gambhir remained unsure over skipper Rohit Sharma's availability for the opening Test against Australia.
Gambhir addressed the media conference in Mumbai on Monday (November 11) ahead of the team’s departure to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, slated to get underway on November 22 in Perth.
Uncertainty remained over Rohit's participation in the series opener, and Gambhir confirmed that deputy Jasprit Bumrah might don the leadership hat in case of regular captain’s absence.
The chief coach also backed KL Rahul to open the batting if Rohit misses out the first Test, with another option being Abhimanyu Easwaran receiving his debut cap in Perth.
"Look, at the moment, there is no confirmation. We'll let you guys know what the situation is. Hopefully, he is going to be available. But everything you will get to know at the start of the series," Gambhir told reporters.
"Obviously, there is Easwaran, there is KL Rahul. We will take a call ahead of the 1st Test if Rohit is unavailable. There are options there. It's not like there are no options. Once we get closer to the 1st Test, we will try and put in the best playing XI," he added.
Easwaran failed to make a mark in India A’s two unofficial Test matches against Australia A in Mackay and Melbourne. He returned with scores of 17, 0, 12 and 7 in four innings.
Rahul was also given a chance to open in the second match for India A, and he managed to score 4 and 10 in the two innings.
Nonetheless, Gambhir acknowledged Rahul’s versatility and backed him to do the job at the top of the order.
"You go with experienced players as well. I think that is the quality of a man that he can actually bat at the top of the order. You can batter at number three, and he can actually bat in sixth position as well. So you need quite a lot of talent to be doing these kinds of jobs as well, and he kept pickets in a one-day format as well. So imagine how many countries have players like KL Rahul who can actually open the batting and can bat at number six as well. So I feel that if needed to be, I think he can do the job for us, especially if Rohit is not available for the first Test match," Gambhir remarked.
