India captain Rohit Sharma welcomes baby boy

Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has been blessed with a baby boy, with his wife Ritika Sajdeh giving birth to their second child on Friday night.

The couple, already parents to daughter Samaira, welcomed their son in a Mumbai hospital.

As the first Test of India’s highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia is set to begin in Perth on November 22, speculation is mounting over whether Sharma will be able to join the team in time for the match.

The Indian captain had previously stayed back in India to support his wife during the birth, delaying his departure for Australia.

Rohit Sharma’s absence from the team for the opening match against Australia had been a subject of concern, but head coach Gautam Gambhir had remained optimistic about his captain’s chances of being fit for the Test.

While the cricketer has not officially confirmed his plans, sources close to the team suggest that Rohit could fly to Perth shortly, though whether he will have enough time to practice and regain match fitness before the Test match remains uncertain.

A tight turnaround leaves little room for Rohit to settle into the squad or adjust to the conditions in Perth, especially given his absence from the team's lead-up training sessions. However, the possibility of his return adds hope to India’s fragile top order, which has struggled for consistency in recent months.

Congraulations pour in

Rohit’s colleagues and fellow cricketers, including Suryakumar Yadav, have been quick to offer their congratulations on the birth of his son.

Suryakumar Yadav, who led India to victory in their recent T20I series against South Africa, posted a message of support on social media, expressing his best wishes for both Sharma’s family and his upcoming Test series in Australia.

“Many, many congratulations to him and his family. It’s the best news on a perfect day,” Suryakumar Yadav said, referring to the team’s victory in Johannesburg.

With less than a week until the first Test, India’s squad remains on edge, waiting to see if their captain will be ready to play. The team will need to ensure Rohit's fitness ahead of the crucial encounter, which forms the first part of the five-match Test series against Australia.