Rohit has started training from Thursday and the full session of the Indian contingent after the New Years holidays will start from Saturday.
Senior starter Rohit Sharma was named vice-captain of the Indian Test team for the first time in his career on Friday, replacing Cheteshwar Pujara, who was entrusted with responsibility for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
After regular captain Virat Kohli went on paternity leave after the first test in Adelaide, Pujara was named Ajinkya Rahane’s substitute for the second match. However, it is known that the team management was always clear that once Rohit is fit and can join the team, he will be Rahane’s substitute.
“There was never a shred of doubt who will be the vice-captain of India once Virat takes a break and Ajinkya rises. It was always going to be Rohit and Pujara was just an interim arrangement until the first one joined the team, ”a senior official with knowledge of the development told PTI under conditions of anonymity.
“Rohit has long been the vice captain of India’s white ball, so it was imperative that in Virat’s absence, he was part of the team’s leadership group,” the official added.
Rohit completed his 14-day harsh quarantine in a Sydney apartment just days ago and joined the team in Melbourne on Wednesday. He received a warm welcome from each and every one.
It is still unclear whether Rohit will prefer to open the innings alongside Shubman Gill, with Mayank Agarwal being knocked out of the eleven due to his prolonged losing streak, or if he hits in the middle instead of Hanuma Vihari, who seems like a certain victim in terms of combination team.
Rohit has started training from Thursday and the full session of the Indian contingent after the New Years holidays will start from Saturday.
Rohit has scored 2,141 runs in 32 events with an average of over 46. He has six hundred in his kitty with a best of 212 against South Africa in 2019.
The Indian team will depart for Sydney on January 5 for the New Years test which is scheduled to start on January 7.
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