The Indian cricket team secured a commanding victory in the first Test at Perth, defeating Australia by a massive 295-run margin. As they prepare to travel to Canberra for a tour game, coach Gautam Gambhir will return to India on Tuesday due to a family emergency. He is expected to rejoin the team ahead of the second Test in Adelaide, scheduled to begin on December 6.
“Gambhir will be travelling back home due to a family emergency and will rejoin the team before the start of the second Test. The BCCI has accepted his request,” a team official told Hindustan Times on Tuesday.
The Indian team is set to depart for Canberra on Wednesday to participate in a two-day pink-ball tour game starting Saturday. The match is crucial preparation for the Adelaide Test, also a day-night encounter. It will provide India’s skipper, Rohit Sharma, an opportunity to acclimatize to the conditions. Rohit had missed the first Test due to the birth of his second child but had a lengthy net session on Monday, facing about 200 deliveries from pacers Mukesh Kumar, Yash Dayal, Akash Deep, and Prasidh Krishna.
On Tuesday, the team opted for a light training session at their hotel instead of regular nets.
In Gambhir’s absence, the support staff will manage the team’s training. Assistant coaches Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate, bowling coach Morne Morkel, fielding coach T Dilip, and skipper Rohit Sharma will oversee preparations.
Meanwhile, Australia’s assistant coach Daniel Vettori missed the first Test to attend the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. However, head coach Andrew McDonald clarified that Vettori’s absence did not impact the team’s preparations.
“He [Vettori] is still connected with us. A lot of pre-planning and prep work went in. The answer is no, it didn’t make a difference,” McDonald said.
