India Will Certainly Miss The Two Sharmas In Australia: Sunil Gavaskar

With India set to resume their international duties on Friday against Australia, the tourists will have to do it without Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma. For the first time in about nine months, India will take the field when they lock horns with Australia with the first of the three ODIs in Sydney. Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar is of the view that India will indeed miss both the Sharmas.

Ishant Sharma, who is the spearhead of India’s Test bowling attack, played only one match in IPL 2020 before returning home. Rohit Sharma also sustained an injury during the 13th edition of the tournament and there have been highly confusing stances from the BCCI’s point of view concerning their injuries. At present, they are not only ruled out from the first two Tests but also remain unsure of participating in the entire series.

Sunil Gavaskar admitted that India would undoubtedly miss both Ishant and Rohit Sharma. The 125-Test veteran stated that Rohit Sharma being a seasoned white-ball cricketer is a massive factor at the top of the innings and also started opening in Test cricket since last year. And coming at that position, he holds the key to getting India off to electric or steady starts. The 33-year old averages a healthy 49.27 in 224 ODIs with 9115 runs alongisde three double centuries.

They’ll certainly miss the Sharmas. Ishant does not play as many one-day games now, but Rohit definitely is a big factor. Because he is at the top of the innings in all formats of the game now since he started opening the batting in Test cricket last year. So he is, you know, the key in getting the team off to a very good start and his absence in the white-ball games will certainly hamper India in getting off to a flying start,” Gavaskar told Michael Holding in the latter’s Youtube channel.

KL Rahul is a certainty in One-day cricket: Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar conceded that KL Rahul’s Test spot remains under doubt despite having a stellar IPL 2020 and a locked fixture in India’s One-day line-up. At the same time, Gavaskar acknowledges that his absence might not be entirely unfavourable, paving the way for someone else to show their capability.

“KL Rahul has had an outstanding Indian Premier League. But he’s been a little uncertain as far as his Test place is concerned. But as far as one-day cricket is concerned, he is okay. He is a certainty. So in a way, sometimes when somebody is not around, it is an opportunity for somebody else in the team to put his hand and show that he is capable of doing well too,” the 71-year old added.

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