NEW DELHI: Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has flown back to Australia and will rejoin the squad on Tuesday ahead of the second Test at Adelaide Oval, starting December 6.
Gambhir had briefly returned home for ‘personal reasons’ following India’s victory in the first Test in Perth.
Gambhir was absent during India’s two-day warm-up match against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra.
The warm-up game at Manuka Oval was shortened to a 46-overs-a-side game due to bad weather.
Gambhir had left Australia on 26th November 26th after the conclusion of the Perth Test where India secured a commanding 295-run win.
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The second Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy begins on Friday which will be day-night affair.
One of Gambhir’s first tasks upon returning will be to finalize the playing XI for the Adelaide Test.
Team’s captain, Rohit Sharma also earlier joined the squad in Australia after missing the first Test due to the birth of his second child.
In Gambhir’s absence, coaching responsibilities were handled by Abhishek Nayar, Ryan ten Doeschate, and Morne Morkel. They oversaw the team’s training and preparations for the warm-up match, which India won by six wickets.
Jasprit Bumrah captained the Indian team in Rohit’s absence during the Perth Test.
Rohit’s return and Shubman Gill’s strong performance in the warm-up game present selection challenges for Gambhir.
Gill scored a half-century against the Prime Minister’s XI after missing the first Test due to a fractured right thumb.
The Indian team arrived in Adelaide from Canberra on Monday afternoon.
India have scheduled three practice sessions before the second Test, including two under lights on Tuesday and Thursday.
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