Rohit Sharma to captain India in test series against Australia?

Rohit Sharma could be in line to captain India for part of their test series against Australia with Virat Kohli set to be unavailable.

Captain Kohli was initially expected to miss the entire four-match test series Down Under, but he will not be available for the early part of a tour that includes three one-day-international matches and three T20 internationals.

Kohli will return home to be with his wife, who in expecting the couples first child early in the New Year, and will miss the final three tests.

Sharma has been left out of the squad for both the ODI and T20 squads, but he is expected to name among the test series party. 

And according to sources close to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Sharma could be in line to step in when Kohli does return home from Australia.

Ajinkya Rahane is Kohli's vice-captain but his poor form in red-ball cricket could be behind the reason to have Sharma on standby to become skipper.

"With Kohli set to miss the last three Tests of what is set to be a tough series, and Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane in poor form, we need Rohit for the Tests against a formidable Australia," the source told The Times of India. 

"He may even lead the team in the Tests. We want to give him complete time to recover from his hamstring injury."