It has been a tough year for KL Rahul. The star Indian cricket team batter has struggled to score runs and his position in the side has constantly come under threat. Things did not improve as he got dismissed in a truly bizarre fashion while playing for India A in a match against Australia A. However, head coach Gautam Gambhir has shown his faith towards Rahul and said that he can be one of the options to play in the first Test match against Australia in Perth if Rohit Sharma is not playing. In the press conference before the team departed for Australia, Gambhir praised Rahul for his versatility and even mentioned that not many countries around the world can say that they have such an “all-round” player in their ranks.

“There are times when you go with the experienced players as well, and that is the quality of a man that he (Rahul) can actually bat at the top of the order, he can bat at number 3 and he can actually bat at number 6 as well,” Gambhir said at the press conference.

“So you need quite a lot of talent to be doing these kind of jobs as well and he has kept wickets in one day format as well. So imagine how many countries have players like KL who can actually open the batting and can bat at number 6 as well? “So I feel that if needed be, I think he can do the job for us, especially if Rohit is not available for the first Test match,” India head coach added.

Meanwhile, Gambhir said that it is a no-brainer that Jasprit Bumrah as designated vice-captain will lead India in the opening Test in Perth in case regular skipper Rohit Sharma is unavailable for the game due to personal reasons.

The straight-talking former opener also gave enough indications that KL Rahul’s experience will be banked upon With the second batch of the Indian team set to leave for Perth on Monday, it is not sure whether Rohit will be playing the first Test due to personal reasons and Gambhir also did not confirm his status.

“Look, at the moment there is no confirmation, but we guys will let you know exactly what the situation will be. Hopefully, he is going to be available, but everything you want to get to know before the start of the series.

“Bumrah is the vice-captain, so obviously he will (lead the team). If Rohit is not available, he is going to lead in Perth,” Gambhir added.

(With PTI inputs)

Virat Kohli landed in Australia on Sunday night, 12 days before the start of the first Test in Perth on November 22. Kohli, therefore, became the first of a large group of Team India players set to arrive in Australia. The rest of the Indian team will arrive in two batches, with the first one consisting the likes of Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. Team India are set to practise at the WACA Ground in Perth, ahead of the first Test.

Ravindra Jadeja, Sarfaraz Khan and uncapped fast bowler Harshit Rana are among those scheduled to fly to Australia in the second batch. Captain Rohit Sharma will not go yet, with his availability for the first Test still in question due to personal reasons.

As per reports, Kohli had been spotted at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on Sunday night, along with wife Anushka Sharma and children Vamika and Akaay. Kohli had requested privacy from the paparazzi, asking them to not click photographs of his wife and children. However, Kohli did pose for pictures himself.

Kohli heads into the year-ending Border-Gavaskar Trophy having averaged only 22.72 in Tests during 2024. However, despite questions over form, head coach Gautam Gambhir defended him in a press-conference before the tour.

“I have no concerns over Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s form. The hunger in the dressing room is important for me, and I feel there is a lot of hunger. We have a lot of experienced players who have played in these conditions. Those inputs will be crucial for the young players,” Gambhir said on Kohli and Rohit’s form.

Kohli managed only 93 runs in three Tests as India slumped to a humiliating 0-3 home Test series whitewash at the hands of New Zealand. However, Kohli averages 54 in Tests in Australia, with six centuries there.

Pakistan sprang a major surprise in the ODI series against Australia as the Mohammad Rizwan-led side won the contest. Pakistan have not been in great from of late but against Australia, they stepped up. The Australian team not only surrendered an ODI series to Pakistan at home for the first time in 22 years after an eight-wicket loss to the Asian side in third ODI at Perth, but also registered an unfortunate record of not registering any half-century by a batter throughout a bilateral series for the first time ever.

Many top players of Australia were not part of the series as they were given a break ahead of the Border Gavaskar Trophy starting on November 22. While Australia were getting hammered in Perth, Australia’s regular captain Pat Cummins, who was not picked for the Pakistan ODI series was attending a Coldplay concert in Sydney. 

Pat Cummins’ wife Becky shared the duo photo on her Instagram story with the caption: “Excitement levels are high!”

Australia media was not too kind. Sydney Morning Herald wrote a piece titled “Why Cummins was at Coldplay while Australia were smashed” while The Australian‘s opinion piece on the incident was titled: “Cummins’ concert jaunt a cold start to summer.”

 Australia’s former captain Michael Clarke expressed strong concerns over the decision by team management to rest key players in the third and final ODI against Pakistan, a move that contributed to Pakistan’s historic ODI series win over Australia on their home soil for the first time in 22 years.

Clarke voiced his frustrations on Big Sports Breakfast, questioning why the team prioritised rest for star players over a chance to secure the series win.

“I’m just a bit confused. With 11 days between now and the first Test, why can’t the Aussie boys who are part of this Test series play in the one-dayer?” Clarke said, addressing the choice to keep major players like Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood off the field.

With IANS and ANI inputs 

Australia’s former captain Michael Clarke expressed strong concerns over the decision by team management to rest key players in the third and final ODI against Pakistan, a move that contributed to Pakistan’s historic ODI series win over Australia on their home soil for the first time in 22 years. Clarke voiced his frustrations on Big Sports Breakfast, questioning why the team prioritised rest for star players over a chance to secure the series win.

“I’m just a bit confused. With 11 days between now and the first Test, why can’t the Aussie boys who are part of this Test series play in the one-dayer?” Clarke said, addressing the choice to keep major players like Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood off the field.

In the absence of these Test-bound players, Australia’s batting lineup faltered, managing only 140 runs before being bowled out. Pakistan comfortably chased the target in just 26.5 overs, winning by eight wickets. Clarke’s comments reflect concerns about the impact of such decisions on fan engagement with ODI cricket, which he believes is already struggling to draw interest.

“If Australia had won the first two games, then you can understand why they rest their big fish, but it was series on the line. I feel like we obviously don’t care about losing that series.

“If you’re not going to care, we’re not going to care. You can’t expect the fans to want to come and watch one-day cricket. We are bagging one-day cricket, no one is turning up, hasn’t got the interest,” he concluded.

In addition to resting key players, Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh were also absent from the ODI series as they are on paternity breaks.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir attended a press conference on Monday before the team’s departure for Australia for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Team India is slated to play a five-match Test series against the mighty Aussies in Down Under, in order to keep their slim World Test Championship final hopes alive. The series will be a difficult yet crucial one as Rohit Sharma and co will be coming after suffering a humiliating 0-3 clean sweep against New Zealand in Test series at home.

Ahead of the highly-anticipated series against Australia, which will kick-start from November 22 in Perth, many reports have suggested that skipper Rohit is likely to miss the first match due to personal reasons.

However, head coach Gambhir has stated during the press conference that there’s still no official confirmation regarding Rohit’s absence.

“At the moment there’s no confirmation. Hopefully he will be available. We’ll let you know,” Gambhir told the press.

The head coach also stated that if Rohit misses the first match, then vice-captain and star pacer Jasprit Bumrah will be donning the captain’s hat.

Not just captaincy, Rohit’s absence will also open a gate for a new opener in the team. Regarding that role, Gambhir said, “If Rohit is not available, we have got (Abhimanyu) Easwaran and KL (Rahul) in Australia. We will take a call.”

Earlier, Australian batting great Ricky Ponting backed Jasprit Bumrah to shoulder the dual responsibility of spearheading the Indian pace attack as well as leading the team.

“Yeah, that (captaincy) is probably the hardest thing for him. I think that was always the question on Pat Cummins when he became the Australian Test captain as well,” Ponting had said during the ICC Review podcast.

Gautam Gambhir Press Conference Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Live Streaming: Before leaving for Australia for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, India head coach Gautam Gambhir will be addressing the media and answering their queries. This is going to be an interesting interaction as the media will be having a lot of questions about the team, especially after the historic 0-3 clean sweep against New Zealand in the recently-concluded Test series. Rohit Sharma and co will be playing a five-match series against Australia. Many reports have suggested that Rohit is likely to miss the first Test in Perth due to personal reasons, However, this question is expected to be asked at the press conference.

The side must be eager to put a better show Down Under and keep its slim World Test Championship final hopes alive.

When will Gautam Gambhir’s Press Conference for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy take place?

Gautam Gambhir’s Press Conference for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will take place on Monday, November 11 (IST).

Where will Gautam Gambhir’s Press Conference for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy be held?

Gautam Gambhir’s Press Conference for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be held at ITC Maratha, Mumbai.

What time will Gautam Gambhir’s Press Conference for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy start?

Gautam Gambhir’s Press Conference for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will start at 9:00 AM IST.

Which TV channels will show the live telecast of Gautam Gambhir’s Press Conference for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy?

Gautam Gambhir’s Press Conference for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will not be telecasted on television.

Where to follow the live streaming of Gautam Gambhir’s Press Conference for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy?

Gautam Gambhir’s Press Conference for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be live streamed on the YouTube channel of Star Sports.

(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)