"Nobody is weak or strong by one player" - 1983 World Cup winner reflects on Rohit Sharma's absence from 1st BGT 2024-25 Test in Perth

Former India cricketer and a member of the 1983 World Cup-winning squad, Kirti Azad has opined that the visitors will miss Rohit Sharma's captaincy in the first Test against Australia in Perth. He, however, added that presence or absence of one player doesn’t make a team strong or weak.

India will begin their campaign in the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy with the first Test in Perth, which starts on Friday, November 22. The visitors will be without the services of skipper Rohit, who has decided to stay back in India with his family following the birth of his second child.

In an interview with Timesofindia.com, former India cricketer Azad reflected on the impact of Rohit’s absence from the team for the Perth Test and commented:

"Nobody is weak or strong by one player. But yes, Rohit, being the captain, has led from the front, he will be missed."

The 65-year-old also admitted that the 37-year-old cricketer’s batting form is a cause for concern.

"Yes. It's a point of worry. And since he's been the captain for a long time, nobody's indispensable. But then again, he is the most important cog in the wheel as far as the Indian team is concerned. So we expect him to do well," Azad opined.

Rohit only managed 91 runs in six innings during the three-match home series against New Zealand, with a best of 52. To make matters worse, India were thumped by a 3-0 margin - an unwanted first for them in home Tests.

Meanwhile, in the regular skipper’s absence, pacer Jasprit Bumrah will lead the Indian team in Perth. Speaking about the same, Azad said that being a good or bad captain depends on situation.

"I played with Kapil Dev, one of the greatest all-rounders in the world. Captaincy never hampered his performances. It depends on the situation. If your team is playing well, and your changes give you results, then you're a good captain. If it doesn't give you results, then you're a bad captain," the former cricketer elaborated.

Bumrah will be leading India in Test cricket for the second time. He previously captained the team in Birmingham in July 2022 after Rohit tested positive for COVID-19. England went on to win the high-scoring contest by seven wickets, chasing down 378.

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How has Rohit Sharma performed in Tests in Australia?

While Rohit will miss the first Test in Perth, India will be hopeful of his availability for the second Test in Adelaide, which begins on December 6. Looking at the 37-year-old batter’s record Down Under in Test matches, he has played 14 innings and has scored 408 runs at an average of 31.38, with three fifties and a best 63*. He will be keen to improve his record during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.