“I have been reading that Rohit Sharma might not play the first two Tests of the Australia series. I feel that, in that case the selection committee should appoint Jasprit Bumrah the captain of the side for the entire Australia tour, and tell Rohit Sharma that you will participate as a player in this series. For the first Test match, Rohit Sharma has to be there,” he added.

Rohit is expected to miss the first Test of the India-Australia Border Gavaskar Test series, starting November 22, for personal reasons. India take on the Pat Cummins-led side in the first of the five Tests at the Optus stadium in Perth.

After the 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand at home in the Wankhede Stadium, Rohit Sharma was asked about reports floating ahead of this series about him missing the first Test match in Australia because of personal reasons at the press conference. “I am not too sure about Perth. But fingers crossed,” he responded about the November 22-27 fixture.

With India needing four wins from the five Tests in Australia to qualify for the World Test Championship Final, Gavaskar said that he can’t see the team making it.

“No, I don’t. I actually don’t. India cannot beat Australia 4-0 in the Test series. If they do that, I would be over the moon if they do that. But 4-0. India can win 3-1, 4-0 is… don’t talk about the World Test Championship final. Now just focus on trying to win the series in Australia. Never mind whether you win 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 3-1, 2-1. But go and win. Because that is how all of us Indian cricket fans are going to be back to feeling good again,” Gavaskar said.

Asked if the clock is ticking for Rohit and Virat Kohli, he said, “It’s ticking for everybody. It’s not just them. But, because they are in their 30s, mid-30s, it will be tougher for them than the guys in the early 20s or early 30s. But the clock is ticking for everybody. Which is why I say, the more you are playing, the more you will be prepared to meet the demands of modern-day cricket.”