Rohit Sharma and wife Ritika Sajdeh blessed with a baby girl; cricketer to miss Sydney Test

Rohit Sharma is set to miss India's fourth Test match against Australia at Sydney as the cricketer's wife has given birth to a baby girl.

Only a few hours had passed since India's historic win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground that Rohit boarded the flight back to Mumbai. The right-handed batsman was in the flight when news arrived that his wife, Ritika Sajdeh had given birth to a little girl.

The news was broken by Ritika's good friend, Seema Khan when she posted a story on her official Instagram page.

This is a very proud moment for the couple and in order to be present for his first child, Rohit will miss the fourth Test match in Sydney against Australia. Rohit is currently enjoying a purple patch, both on and off the pitch. The batsman had a fantastic year in the limited overs format as he notched up his fourth T20 century and scored over 1,000 runs in ODIs.

Rohit also led the national team in the sporadic absence of full-time skipper Virat Kohli. Under his leadership, India won the Nidahas Trophy and the Asia Cup. His form and tactical acumen in the limited overs format saw Rohit return to India's Test fold.

"It would've been great to have him (Rohit) around. Tactically, he brings so much to the side and then his batting provides the right kind of balance to the side. But what awaits him is far bigger and more important," the Times of India quoted a person in the know of things as saying.

Returning to the side at MCG, Rohit scored an important half century to swell India's first innings total to 443-7 and set the game up for the bowlers to work their magic. Even on the field, his inputs are becoming increasingly valuable. Pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah admitted that his slower delivery to outfox Shaun Marsh and trap him plumb in front was, in fact, Rohit's brainchild.

Thus, it is obvious that India will miss the presence of the 31-year-old on the field in Sydney as they look to register an unprecedented series win in Australia. But Rohit's absence opens up a spot for Hardik Pandya who was flown to Australia ahead of the third Test along with Mayank Agarwal.

It will be interesting to see what combination Virat Kohli opts for in the fourth Test match beginning from January 3, 2019.