Rohit Sharma welcomes second child, skips Perth test for family time

India’s cricket captain, Rohit Sharma, shared heartwarming news with his fans on Saturday by announcing the birth of his second child with wife Ritika Sajdeh. Taking to Instagram, Rohit posted a subtle tribute to the popular sitcom Friends, writing, “The FAMILY, the one where we are four,” marking the expansion of his family. The post, which was accompanied by a picture of the happy parents and their newborn, included the date "15.11.2024," signaling the arrival of their new baby.

Rohit and Ritika’s first child, daughter Samaira, was born in 2018. The couple’s joy has now doubled with the addition of their second child. As a result of this life-changing event, Rohit chose to stay with his family and did not travel with the Indian cricket team to Perth ahead of the much-awaited Border Gavaskar Trophy series opener.

With less than a week remaining before the series begins, it remains unclear whether Rohit will join the team in time to play in the first Test against Australia, scheduled to begin on November 22. The India captain’s absence has left fans and experts speculating about his potential return to the squad.

Meanwhile, in a related update, another prominent cricketer, KL Rahul, along with actress Athiya Shetty, also announced that they are expecting a child. The couple shared a sweet post on Instagram with the message, "Our beautiful blessing is coming soon. 2025," accompanied by baby feet emojis and a clip art of the evil eye.

The Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 will see India and Australia facing off in a series of five Tests, with the first match taking place in Perth. Following that, the second Test will be a day-night fixture in Adelaide from December 6 to 10. The third Test will be held in Brisbane at The Gabba from December 14 to 18, and the Boxing Day Test will take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30. The final Test is scheduled for January 3 to 7 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The Indian squad for the series includes Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, and other key players. The Australian squad for the first Test will be led by Pat Cummins and includes top players such as Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, and Nathan Lyon.