Travis Head named Rohit Sharma as the 'hottest Indian player' ahead of the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy series. Rohit's availability for the Perth Test remains uncertain.

Rohit's likely absence from the first Test is because his wife Ritika Sajdeh is expecting their second child in the third week of November. A source was quoted by India Today saying, "Rohit Sharma won't travel with the team to Australia. There were suggestions he might travel but now he isn't. His wife's delivery is expected next week."

India's legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar has urged test captain Rohit Sharma to give up the leadership role for the Australia series.

Jasprit Bumrah is expected to stand in as skipper — an appointment Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar believes should be locked in for all five matches, regardless of when Rohit returns. “It is important for the captain to play the first Test match,” Gavaskar said on Sports Tak.

Sunil Gavaskar offered an insight into Rohit Sharma's approach as India prepare for the five-Test series against Australia.

Highlighting the impact Pant created in the third Test against New Zealand in Mumbai, Kaif suggested that the wicket-keeper batter had the Kiwis nervous for as long as he was on the pitch. Kaif also lauded Pant's dramatic improvement in recent years, saying he is the only true candidate for Test captaincy once Rohit steps down.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma is no guarantee to play in the first Test against Australia in Perth with coach Gautam Gambhir unable to confirm the skipper would be ready as his team departed for the blockbuster Border-Gavaskar series.

Rohit's participation in the first Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia is uncertain due to the impending birth of his second child. Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar, meanwhile, has offered advice on how Rohit can overcome his recent slump in form,

As Rohit Sharma awaits personal developments at home, former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes India's skipper will be ready to join his side in time for the first Test against Australia as soon as the situation deems fit.