rohit sharma: ICC T20 World Cup: Rohit Sharma-led Indian team departs for Australia

The India men’s cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, left for Australia on Thursday morning for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, starting 16 October.

After failing to overtake the quarter-finals in 2017, the 2007 champions will look to claim the trophy this time around.

Team India was able to generate some momentum before winning bilateral series against Australia and South Africa ahead of the World Cup.

The social media accounts of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) posted a picture of Team India’s entire team leaving for the T20 World Cup.

BCCI tweeted, “Picture right, let’s do this #TeamIndia. @cricketworldcup Here we come.”

Picture perfect let’s do this #TeamIndia@cricketworldcup, here we come https://t.co/XX7cSg3Qno

—BCCI (@BCCI) 166505648000

The T20I series between India and Australia and South Africa may have ended in India’s victory on home soil but there are some serious issues as the team prepares to compete in the T20 World Cup in Australia.

Jasprit Bumrah was on Monday ruled out of the four-week tournament due to a back injury and will remain in India while his teammates travel to Down Under for the showcase event.

Bumrah was initially named to lead India’s effort to clinch a second T20 World Cup crown and his absence is expected to hamper his chances of adding the title he won in 2007.

The BCCI is yet to name the right-arm replacement, though fellow pacers Mohammed Shami and Deepak Chahar are already on standby for the tournament.

Before starting their World Cup campaign, India will play a few warm-up matches against Australia and New Zealand.

They will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan in Melbourne on 23 October.

Originally published at Pen 18