India vs Australia: Let Rohit Sharma enjoy his paternity break please, he knows when to fly out

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Rohit Sharma was never supposed to play the first Test in Perth against Australia, so the debate over his absence and paternity leave is very much misplaced.

Last week, before the Indian team left Mumbai, coach Gautam Gambhir was circumspect when asked about Rohit the captain. His reply was like the Muttiah Muralitharan 'doosra,' Jasprit Bumrah will lead in the first Test if Hitman does not fly out.

Social media's insensitivity is acceptable since, for them, Rohit Sharma is not supposed to have a private life and has to be available 24/7 for Indian cricket. Also Read: When Will Rohit Sharma be Available For Team India in Border-Gavaskar Trophy?

What has been surprising is to read a former India captain and former BCCI President Sourav Ganguly plus a few more say, Rohit should fly out to Perth as his son has arrived. This is bizarre, more so from those who are parents themselves.

The birth of a child does not mean you see the son and wife and pack up. There are deep emotions involved, so all good wishes for Rohit he stays with the family and then leaves in time ahead of the second Test. Also Read: Champions Trophy: Slap on face for PCB as ICC announce dates

Why cannot people realise and relate to the fact, mentally, Rohit would not be 100 per cent 'in' if he had flown out over the weekend? It makes far more sense he stays with the family and then leaves, fully prepared. To be at nets and practise is just one part, the main thing is mental preparation.

Frankly speaking, Rohit not being available for the first Test is no news at all. He never said he was going and stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah has been part of the simulation sessions which has seen a few injuries to players like KL Rahul and Shubman Gill in Perth.

What was even more galling was the suggestion that since Gill is injured, now Rohit Sharma should go. Winning in Australia is no longer the 'Final Frontier' as was described in the past. India won the last series in 2021, despite the massively stressful bio-bubble.

Let Rohit be with his family and he will fly out on time. If you are doubting his commitment, that is sad. After performing for Indian cricket for so many years and after landing India in the ICC T20 World Cup this year, the skipper needs an important break.

It was also interesting to read a comment from a former India captain and veteran commentator Sunil Gavaskar that Jasprit Bumrah be made captain for the whole series. There is a strong disconnect here. In the 2020-21 series, when Virat Kohli led in just one Test and took a paternity break, Ajinkya Rahane took over as stand-in captain and did a wonderful job.

The BCCI think-tank knows what has to be done with leadership, and a change when needed. After all, the transition in T20 cricket has seen Suryakumar Yadav embrace captaincy so calmly. He has allowed players to flourish, with Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma in such explosive form while winning the T20 series against South Africa.

Back to Rohit Sharma, never doubt his commitment to Indian cricket and even his franchise Mumbai Indians. He never made any noise when captaincy was taken away from him in 2023 by the Mumbai Indians and it was handed over to Hardik Pandya.

Likewise, even this time, when MI announced the retentions, Rohit was calm. He said nothing controversial at all. That defines Rohit's persona as a human being and cricketer. Leave Rohit Sharma and his family alone, please. He will return to Australia when he has to. He is not the same child wanting to bunk school and sulk at home!