KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal performed admirably in the first Test match against Australia in Perth when skipper Rohit Sharma was not present. The hosts were under tremendous pressure as they succumbed by 295 runs after the pair’s opening partnership of 201 runs in the second innings. However, that has sparked a few of debates regarding Rohit’s batting position during the Adelaide second Test.
The team management might not want to change Rahul and Jaiswal’s partnership because it performed so well in the first Test. Rohit, who has performed admirably at the top of the order, would find his position complicated, though. The team management’s thoughts were hinted at during the practice match against the Prime Minister’s XI, where Rohit batted at number four and Rahul and Jaiswal began.
According to rumours, the captain may start at number five in the Adelaide Test, since the first four spots would be occupied by Jaiswal, Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Kohli. Rishabh Pant would drop to number six, and any spinner might take his place at number seven.
Harbhajan Singh, a former cricket player, does not think Rohit Sharma would bat in the middle order, though.
He anticipates that the 37-year-old will either play at number three or open with Jaiswal. The off-spinner went on to say that a guy like Rohit should bat at the top and that it won’t benefit the team if he bats in the middle order.
“I don’t think Rohit will be ranked number five or six. Either Rohit will bat at least three positions, or he will open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul at number three. Rohit at number six would not be optimal for the team. The four cornerstones of your batting order should be your top four, and having someone like Rohit at the top would only give it more vigour,” India Today cited Harbhajan as saying.
In Test cricket, Rohit has notably batted at No. 6 and amassed 1037 runs at an average of 54.5 in 16 games. Additionally, he batted at that position and amassed three hundreds and six fifties.