Adam Gilchrist has left the country.

The Australian captain was due to arrive in Singapore at 6.30am on Tuesday for four days of rest and recuperation before returning to his exhausting responsibilities during the final two Tests for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

All members of Australia's 16-man squad have been given a four-day leave pass and the skipper revealed he was flying out of India after monsoon rains washed out the final day of the second Test at Chepauk Stadium without a ball being bowled.

A funeral atmosphere enveloped the sodden ground as the Indians, due to resume on 0-19 chasing 219 to win, were stuck in their dressing room all day as was Gilchrist, who planned to board a midnight flight for his rendezvous with wife Melanie and their children.

"I'm really looking forward to this break," said Gilchrist, who has juggled his captaincy, wicketkeeping and top-order batting duties with great aplomb during the first two Tests.

"We've got a few days off and we've all got the chance to have some time away from cricket. I'm actually going to have the chance to catch up with my family and I really can't wait for that. It's going to be a great energy boost for me.

"It's a timely break. We're being left to our own devices. We'll get together again in Mumbai at the end of the week then get up to Nagpur and start our preparations again from there."

The third Test starts at Nagpur on Tuesday week.

The vast majority of the Australian players will spend their break in Mumbai, where the Taj Mahal Hotel is one of the best in the world, but Goa in India's south and Fisherman's Cove, near Chennai, are among the possible locations being mentioned by the more adventurous souls.

Gilchrist, thrust into the captaincy by the thumb injury to Ricky Ponting, rejected criticism of his wicketkeeping that arose after he dropped three catches at Chennai - one of them from Sourav Ganguly off paceman Michael Kasprowicz and a couple of half-chances from the bowling of leg spinner Shane Warne.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP