Gautam Gambhir leaves Team India midway through Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25

In a recent development, Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir is set to fly back to India in the middle of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 series in Australia. As per a report in The Indian Express, Gautam Gambhir will leave the Indian Test team in Australia due to "personal reasons."

Team India secured an emphatic 295-run victory in the first Test of the five-match series against Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Monday, November 25. India took a 1-0 lead in the ongoing Test series and moved back to the top of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 standings.

Gautam Gambhir to Fly Back to India From Australia Ahead of 2nd Test

Following their victory in the series opener at Perth, the visiting team is set to travel to Canberra for a pink-ball practice match. This two-day game against the Prime Minister's XI is scheduled to start on Saturday, November 30. Skipper Rohit Sharma joined the Indian squad during the first Test match.

Gautam Gambhir is returning to India from Australia on Tuesday for personal reasons. However, he is expected to rejoin the team before the second Test, a pink-ball match, which is scheduled to begin in Adelaide on December 6.

"Gambhir has informed us that he will be travelling back home and will join the team before the start of the second Test. He has cited personal reasons and the BCCI has accepted his request," Indian Express quoted a source as saying.

It remains uncertain who will oversee the proceedings for the tour game. In Gautam Gambhir's absence, the support staff—assistant coaches Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate, bowling coach Morne Morkel, and fielding coach T Dilip—will handle training sessions in consultation with Rohit Sharma.

Rohit Sharma Joined Team India on Day 4 of the Perth Test

Rohit Sharma, who missed the Perth Test due to the birth of his second child, joined the team in Australia on Sunday. He was spotted with Gautam Gambhir in the dressing room on Day 4 of the first Test. During the lunch break on that day, the right-handed batter practiced with a pink ball in the nets.

Hitman @ImRo45 has just completed his first nets session in Australia and even the commentators couldn’t keep calm!#TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/vsonrdc2ud

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2024

We've Got Captain Of Indian Rohit Sharma - David Warner

Speaking about Rohit Sharma's practice, David Warner said that the Indian skipper was looking sharp as he faced Indian fast bowlers in the nets. Warner expressed excitement about seeing Rohit back on the field in Australia.

David Warner said, "And just during the lunch break here at the nets, we’ve got captain of India Rohit Sharma, who’s just arrived in the country."

"He is looking nice and sharp against his fellow countrymen here in the nets. We’ve got a few of the Indian fast bowlers bowling towards the captain ahead of the pink ball Test match starting the 6th of December in Adelaide. As we just see there Mukesh Kumar sending down a nice delivery. But it’s great to see the captain here and we’re looking forward to seeing him back out on the park here on Australian soil," he added.

Also read: ICC World Test Championship Points Table, WTC Table After IND vs AUS 1st Test 2024