India Names Bumrah Captain for First Australia Test

India is facing significant challenges ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, starting November 22 in Perth. Skipper Rohit Sharma will miss the first Test for the birth of his second child, with Jasprit Bumrah stepping in as captain, while Shubman Gill is out due to a thumb injury. This leaves KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal to likely open the innings, as confirmed by the BCCI. The Indian team opted for intra-squad match simulations instead of traditional warm-up games, a decision criticized by former England captain Michael Vaughan. Meanwhile, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna are competing for the third pacer's slot, with the former impressing in practice sessions. India's preparation is under scrutiny after a 3-0 home Test series loss to New Zealand, making their performance in Australia crucial for their World Test Championship prospects.