India’s regular Test captain Rohit Sharma isn’t in Australia but celebrated the birth of his second child on Friday. Rohit’s availability for the series hasn’t been confirmed but given he is not in Australia, he is long odds to be ready for Friday’s match. There is an eight-day gap between the first Test in Perth and second in Adelaide.
Virat Kohli went for scans during the week for a mystery injury but has been batting at the WACA and looks ready to square off against Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
Meanwhile, Indian fast bowler Mohammad Shami is back playing cricket and could be on his way to Australia later in the series.
KL Rahul of India receives medical treatment after being struck on his right arm from a delivery by Prasidh Krishna on Friday. Credit: Getty Images
Shami wasn’t named in India’s Test squad due to an ankle injury but took seven wickets in a Ranji Trophy match to fuel speculation he could be flown to Australia to strengthen India’s bowling attack.
It was the 34-year-old’s first match since the ODI World Cup final against Australia in November last year.
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Australian players were due to arrive in Perth on Sunday, giving them four days of training before the most highly anticipated series in Australia since England toured for the Ashes in 2021-22.
It has been a steady preparation for Australia’s players with no injury concerns since Cameron Green was ruled out of the series last month with a back injury. Travis Head and Mitch Marsh are both returning from paternity leave but won’t have batted in a match for more than a month. Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne were rested from Australia’s third ODI against Pakistan, which the team lost.
Australia has never lost a Test at Perth Stadium from four appearances since 2018.
