Good news: Rohit Sharma blessed with a baby girl

India’s middle-order batsman in Test cricket, Rohit Sharma will miss the fourth and final Test match of the series against Australia, as he has flown down to India to be with his wife for the birth of their first child.

According to a report published in the Times of India, barely hours after winning the MCG, Rohit Sharma had already boarded the flight to Mumbai when news arrived that wife Ritika had been blessed with a baby girl.

Times of India quoted a source as saying, “It would’ve been great to have him (Rohit) around. Tactically, he brings so much to the side and then his batting provides the right kind of balance to the side. But what awaits him is far bigger and more important.”

Rohit, who played a crucial knock of 63 not out in the first innings of the recently concluded 3rd Test, made his return into playing XI after missing the 2nd Test due to injury. He was also part of the playing XI in the first game, where he scored 37 and 1.

Rohit had made his comeback into the Test side for the Australia tour. Team India’s limited-overs vice-captain was dropped from the Test team after the South Africa tour, where he scored 78 runs in four innings. He was also kept out of the team for Afghanistan Test, England Test tour and the home series against West Indies as well.

His form in the limited-overs cricket saw Rohit making his comeback to the longest format of the game. He was preferred over Hanuma Vihari in the first Test. The latter made a comeback into the playing XI after an injury to Rohit for the second Test and batted as an opener in the third game – when Rohit was back in the playing XI.

India is currently leading the series 2-1 with final Test to be played from January 3 in Sydney. With a win in Melbourne, the visitors ensured that they retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and team India cannot lose the series from this point.

Also Read: Australia vs India: Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin ruled out of Perth Test with injuries