Xtra Time Web Desk: Ace India batsman Rohit Sharma on Friday was elevated as the vice captain of the test team now touring Down Under. Rohit has been appointed the deputy of Ajinkya Rahane. He replaces Cheteshwar Pujara, who was entrusted with the responsibility for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. It was the first time in his career that Rohit has been appointed the vice captain of the Indian test team.
After regular captain Virat Kohli went on paternity leave after the first Test in Adelaide, Pujara was named Ajinkya Rahane’s deputy for the second match. However, it is learnt that the team management was always clear that once Rohit is fit and able to join the squad, he will be Rahane’s deputy.
The batsman from Mumbai recently united with the squad in Melbourne after finishing his mandatory 14 days quarantine. He started training outdoor on Thursday, doing some catching practice followed by a session at the nets with batting coach Vikram Rathour.
It is still not clear whether Rohit will prefer opening the innings alongside Shubman Gill, with Mayank Agarwal being dropped from the playing eleven due to his prolonged bad patch, or bat in the middle-order in place of Hanuma Vihari, who looks like a certain casualty in terms of team combination.
The Indian team will be leaving for Sydney on January 4 for the New Year’s Test which is scheduled to start on January 7.