Jasprit Bumrah to Lead India in 1st Australia Test, Nitish Kumar Reddy Set for Debut

​​​In a major development for Indian cricket, Jasprit Bumrah is set to captain the Indian team in the first Test match against Australia, starting on November 22 in Perth. This leadership shift comes as regular skipper Rohit Sharma will miss the match to spend time with his wife, Ritika Sajdeh, following the birth of their second child.

Rohit Sharma's Return for the Pink-Ball Test

According to a report by Indian Express, Rohit Sharma has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his unavailability for the opening Test but is expected to rejoin the team for the second match in Adelaide, scheduled as a pink-ball Test. A BCCI official stated, “There is a nine-day gap between the first and second Test matches, so Rohit will be able to be there on time.”

Nitish Kumar Reddy’s Anticipated Debut

Adding to the excitement, young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is likely to make his Test debut in Perth. Reddy, a fast-bowling all-rounder, is being considered as a fourth seam option, especially on the bouncy Perth pitch. With pacers like Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna already in the squad, Reddy’s inclusion aims to bring a balance to the playing XI.

KL Rahul Back in Action

In a boost for Team India, KL Rahul returned to batting during practice at the WACA Stadium after suffering a right elbow injury during an intra-squad simulation match. The star batter was seen batting on the center wicket for an hour before hitting the nets for further practice. His availability for the first Test is a positive sign for India's batting lineup.

Team India Prepares for Border-Gavaskar Trophy

India’s preparations for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy are in full swing. Players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant were absent from practice on Sunday, but the team has been focused on fine-tuning strategies under Bumrah's interim captaincy.

As the first Test approaches, fans are eagerly waiting to see how Bumrah leads the team and how Nitish Kumar Reddy performs in his debut. With Rohit Sharma expected to return for the second Test, the series promises to be a thrilling contest between two cricketing giants.

Stay tuned for updates as India gears up to take on Australia in one of the most anticipated Test series of the year!

Reference from:- https://sports.ndtv.com/australia-vs-india-2024-25/jasprit-bumrah-to-captain-big-debut-expected-in-1st-australia-test-report-makes-huge-claims-7040506