AUS vs IND | Gambhir to leave Australia and miss Canberra game for ‘personal reasons’

ByArijit Kundu, SportsCafe Editor

Today at 3:07 PM

Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir is all set to miss the two-day game against Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra, citing personal reasons. A BCCI source has revealed to EspnCricinfo that he had to leave the Australian shore after India’s triumph in Perth and will join the team before the second Test.

The exact reason for Gambhir’s departure is yet to be determined. In his absence, the coaching group of Morne Morkel, Abhishek Nayar, T Dilip, and Ryan ten Doeschate will oversee the Men in Blue. This means they’ll be stewarding the side scheduled to face the Prime Minister’s XI for a two-day tour game in Canberra starting November 30. There are ten days of gap between the first two Tests and the Indian head coach is reported to return before the pink ball affair in Adelaide.

Gambhir stepped on the Australian shores on the back of India’s embarrassing 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand. With immense pressure in mind, the 295-run triumph at the Optus Stadium, Perth will add a sigh of relief for the Delhi cricketer. Eyeing to climb up the points table in the all-important World Test Championship table and enforce a hattrick of series wins in Australia, Gambhir and co. have a tough task ahead. However, the team is bolstered by the addition of Rohit Sharma who missed the series opener due to the birth of his second child. Moreover, Shubman Gill, who missed the Perth test due to a finger fracture could be on the verge of making the playing XI as well.

India have gained a 1-0 lead in the five-match Border Gavaskar Trophy and the second Test starts on December 6.

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