India vs Australia Test Series – Thakur, Sundar, Natarajan staying back : The fairy tale for Indian pacer T. Natarajan is continuing. First from being net-bowler he made it to the ODI and T20 playing XI and now the team management in Australia has requested him to stay back for the Test series.
As the Indian white-ball squad has left Australia, Natarajan along with Shardul Thakur, and Washington Sundar have stayed back with the Test squad.
It’s not clear whether they will be considered for the Test matches but at this stage they will be back-up cum net bowlers for India’s Test series in Australia, starting December 17.
The reason for the trio to stay back in Australia is different.
InsideSport has learnt from its sources that, all is not well with Ravindra Jadeja at this stage and he is certain to miss the first test. Washington Sundar has been asked to stay back as his cover.
Shardul Thakur will be staying back because team management feels as Ishant Sharma is now ruled out from the series, they require some back-up
Natarajan, a standout performer in the T20 Series has been asked to stay back because of his form and variety he lends to the bowling arsenal.
India vs Australia Test Series : Rohit Sharma ready to fly to Australia on Sunday
Meanwhile as Rohit Sharma has now passed the fitness test, it is being learnt that he will fly to Australia on Sunday.
Though BCCI is yet to officially declare Rohit’s fitness test report but according to the sources as now he has cleared his test, the board is arranging a charter flight for Rohit.
Rohit will take a charter flight from Mumbai to Sydney on December 13. He is likely to be available for selection for the last two Tests of the four-match series. BCCI is also in constant dialogue with Cricket Australia for some relaxation in the quarantine norms.
“BCCI is in constant dialogue with Cricket Australia. We have requested to them for relaxation of quarantine norms for Rohit. We want him to be available for the team as soon as possible, said the BCCI official.
According to the sources, realistically even if Rohit gets all relaxation from Cricket Australia – he will only be available to India team next year i.e from the 3rd Test match starting on 7th January in Sydney.
