Given the successful start given by Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul in the first Test against Australia, there are questions as to where the returning Rohit Sharma to should bat in the second Test at Adelaide. Captain Rohit, who missed the first Test, is all set to return for the day-night Test and in the practice match didn’t walk out as an opener and slotted himself at No 4.
With just two days to go for the second Test, all eyes are on where Rohit will bat as changing the batting order that played a huge role in the Perth Test win could disturb the momentum. While there are calls for Rohit to bat at No 5 or 6, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh believes the Indian captain should bat in the top-order.
“I don’t see Rohit coming in at number five or six. Either Rohit will open with Yashasvi Jaiswal, with KL Rahul coming in at number three, or he will bat no later than number three,” Harbhajan told PTI.
“Number six for Rohit wouldn’t be in best interest of the team. Your top four in batting order should be the four pillars and someone like Rohit at the top would only add greater fillip,” said Harbhajan.
Before moving to the opener’s role in 2019, Rohit had been a middle-order batsman in red-ball cricket. But since becoming an opener, he hasn’t batted down the order. With Shubman Gill also likely to be fit for the second Test that begins on Friday, India have a few questions that need answering. While Devdutt Padikkal is all set to miss out, in case Gill regains fitness, then Dhruv Jurel could also find himself warming the bench. In that case, India will need to alter their batting order. If Rohit decides to open, then Rahul could go back to batting at No 5, with Gill taking the No 3 slot.
