India had announced their squad for their upcoming tour of Australia around a week ago. The biggest name missing from the squad was Rohit Sharma. BCCI has released a statement alongside the squad stating that they will be monitoring Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma as they weren’t completely fit. The BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has now declared that both Rohit Sharma & Ishant Sharma are not completely ruled out of the Australian tour. According to Ganguly, BCCI is monitoring their fitness and if declared fit they can fly to Australia at a later stage. With Rohit currently in the UAE with IPL table-toppers Mumbai Indians, and Ishant undergoing rehab in India, Ganguly said there was the option of flying the duo later than the rest of the squad to Australia, despite the bio-bubble and quarantine rules. “They can be sent later. There are flights to Australia, we can make them fly if they are declared fit.”
“We are monitoring Ishant and Rohit. Ishant is not completely out. He will become a part of the Test series,” he told Hindustan Times in an interview. “With Rohit, we want him fit for Australia. At some stage if he is fit, I am sure the selectors will rethink his position.” the former Indian captain said. Rohit is recovering from a hamstring injury to his left leg, but his franchise remains hopeful of his participation in the IPL play-offs. Asked if the star batsman should be advised to drop out of the league so as to not aggravate his injury, Ganguly responded by saying: “We haven’t seen him playing.” This comes as a major hint as Ganguly has now made it clear that Rohit Sharma can be included in the squad once he gets fit.
Ganguly also spoke about the upcoming series between the two teams. “Australia in Australia is always tough. They will be a lot stronger with Steve Smith and David Warner back. Players like (Marnus) Labuschagne have become better,” Ganguly said in an interview. “It will be a good test for India, but they are capable of winning. It will be a good series.”