India will be touring Australia for three ODIs, three T20Is, and four Tests, scheduled to be played between November 27 and January 19. Virat Kohli-led Team India will begin the title defense of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with the pink-ball Test in Adelaide from December 17. It will be followed by Tests at the MCG (December 26), the Sydney Cricket Ground (January 7) and the Gabba (January 15).
However, a row erupted after Indian ace batsman Rohit Sharma was not selected for the Australia tour. The BCCI cited fitness issue as the reason of his exclusion, but Rohit Sharma kept on playing for Mumbai Indians. This raised many questions on the BCCI and people started to speculate that not everything is fine between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Now, going by the reports, the All-India Senior Selection Committee met on Sunday to pick certain replacements after receiving injury reports and updates from the BCCI Medical Team. Virat Kohli had informed the BCCI about his plans to return to India after the first Test in Adelaide. The BCCI has granted paternity leave to the Indian captain. He will return after the first Test against Australia in Adelaide.
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The BCCI Medical Team has been monitoring Rohit Sharma’s fitness and has briefed All-India Senior Selection Committee on the same. In consultation with Mr Sharma, it has been decided to rest him for the ODIs and T20Is in Australia to regain full fitness and he has been included in India’s Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The Selection Committee has added Sanju Samson as an additional wicket-keeper to India’s ODI squad.