Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma empathized with England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, who had to return home due to a delay in obtaining his Indian visa. Bashir's visa issues mean he will miss the first Test against India. Rohit acknowledged the challenges Bashir faced, expressing understanding for the situation and hoping the young spinner can join the squad soon.

"I feel for him. He's coming here with the England setup for the first time. It's not easy for anyone. Unfortunately, I don't sit in the visa office to give more details on that. But I hope he can make it here quickly, enjoy our country, and play some cricket as well," said Rohit during a pre-match press conference.

The situation is not uncommon in international cricket, as evidenced by Australian opener Usman Khawaja facing a similar delay in arriving for a Test series in India last year. England captain Ben Stokes had earlier expressed his frustration with Bashir's visa issues, emphasizing the challenges players sometimes face in such situations.

Stuart Hooper, the England and Wales Cricket Board's MD (Operations), was in the UAE to expedite the visa procedure, but Bashir's approval is pending from the Indian High Commission in London. The delay has left the England team without a key player for the opening Test, frustrating both the captain and the team management.