Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has backed Rohit Sharma to bat in the middle order in the pink-ball Test against Australia at Adelaide. Rohit missed the opening Test at Perth due to personal reasons and in his absence, KL Rahul was able to grab his chance with both hands, returning with scores of 26 and 77.
Rahul added 201 runs (highest opening alliance for India on Australian soil) in the second innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who went on to score 161 runs.
On the other hand, Rohit batted at number four in the pink-ball practice match against Prime Ministers XI, indicating that he would bat in the middle order against Australia. Rohit scored only 91 runs in three Test matches against New Zealand and scored just three runs in practice match against PM XI.
“It looks like Rohit Sharma will not open now because there was only one pink-ball practice match against the Prime Minister’s XI, and in that, Rohit came to bat down the order. He did not bat as an opener,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“When the India vs Australia pink-ball Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starts in Adelaide on the 6th, it would have been 2170 days since Rohit Sharma last batted in the middle order. He did that last in 2018, six years ago, at the Melbourne ground. He hasn’t batted in the middle order for India in Test cricket after that,” Chopra added.
The renowned commentator feels it is a right decision that Rohit demotes himself in the batting order.
“I would say it’s right and from many angles. KL Rahul did well in the last match. There was a 200-run partnership and because of that the Indian team made a huge total in the second innings, and won the match. So why should you change that?” he reasoned.
Chopra feels Shubman Gill should bat at one down and either Rohit Sharma or Rishabh Pant should bat at number five.
“Shubman Gill will remain at No. 3. Rohit Sharma has already batted down the order. So I am thinking at No. 5. Rishabh Pant will be pushed to No. 6 unless you need a left-hander to go ahead. So the captain might go to No. 6 and Rishabh Pant might come at No. 5, but that will be very dynamic,” Chopra observed.
The second Test match between Australia and India, which will be a pink-ball game, will be played at Adelaide Oval from December 6 onwards.
