Rahul set to open in Perth; Bumrah at helm as Rohit to miss first Test

PTI Perth: KL Rahul allayed concerns surrounding his fitness with an extended net session here on Sunday, indicating his readiness to open in the first Test against Australia as skipper Rohit Sharma will join the team only in Adelaide after spending time with his new-born baby. Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will lead the team in Rohit's absence. Rahul had left the field for medical attention on Friday after sustaining a blow on his elbow by pacer Prasidh Krishna while batting in an intra-squad practice match at the WACA ground.

The first of the five Tests in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will begin at the Optus Stadium from November 22, while the second Test at Adelaide starts from December 6. In all likelihood, the team management will pair Rahul with Yashasvi Jaiswal, and the 32-year-old's recovery has come as a massive relief after Shubman Gill was ruled out of the first Test with a fractured thumb. Rahul batted without any major discomfort for a considerable time and participated in all the drills during the three-hour net session on this day. "I had got a bad hit on Day 1 of the game. I am feeling good today, getting ready for the first game. Happy that I could come here early and get used to the conditions," Rahul said in a video shared by BCCI on X. "Yeah, I got a lot of time to prepare for this series and I am excited and looking forward to it," he added. In fact, head coach Gautam Gambhir too had indicated a promotion up the order for Rahul during the pre-departure press meet in Mumbai in the event of Rohit missing the opening Test. Team Physio Kamlesh Jain said Rahul has responded well to the treatment.

"The key for us was to ensure that there is no fracture there. It's 48 hours since the impact and he has responded well to treatments. He should be ready to go," said Jain in the video. Yogesh Parmar, the support physio, said the treatment was based on "controlling the pain." "I took him for X-ray and scan and based upon the report I was more confident that he should be fine. "It was a matter of controlling the pain and giving him some confidence.

From a medical point of view, he is absolutely fine," said Parmar. The Indian team, meanwhile, finished its block of training at the WACA ground and the visitors will now move to the Optus Stadium for match drills from Tuesday, after a scheduled rest day on Monday.