Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif feels India captain Rohit Sharma will be keen to play in the first  Test of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting in Perth on November 22. With Rohit awaiting the birth of his second child, his participation in the first Test remains uncertain as well.

Yet, in a recent YouTube video, as quoted by India Today, Kaif said, “The thought will be there in Rohit Sharma’s mind. His absence isn’t confirmed because he does want to play. He knows that India have just lost 3-0 (to New Zealand), and he is the leader. He is not the kind of leader who runs away when the team is not performing well.”

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“He is waiting for situations get better at home, with his wife who is pregnant, and as soon as that happens, I am telling you, he will reach Perth. That is why he has not yet confirmed that he will be out for the first Test,” Kaif further added.

While Rohit Sharma has not travelled with the Indian side to Australia yet, he has been practising and training in Mumbai to prepare for the upcoming series as well. Following the New Zealand setback, India must beat Australia by a margin of 4-0 or better in the five-match Test series to control their World Test Championship (WTC) final destiny as well.