Former Indian fast bowler Dodda Ganesh has quashed suggestions of Rohit Sharma opening in the third Test match against Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series. Rohit missed the opening Test in Perth to be with his family for the birth of his second child.

In Rohit’s absence, KL Rahul was able to grab his opportunity as he returned with scores of 26 and 77. Rahul also added a match-winning alliance of 201 runs with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the second innings. 

Ergo, Rohit, and the team management decided not to change the opening combination and the captain batted at number six in second Test. But the right-hander could not deliver the goods in the middle order, returning with scores of 3 and 6 in the pink-ball Test at Adelaide.

Dodda Ganesh wrote on X, “Rohit Sharma is already short of confidence and runs. Experts urging him to open at Gabba is foolhardy, to say the least. The series is not being played in the sub-continent where he can throw his bat and get some runs. It will be a lamb to the slaughterhouse if he opens.”

On the other hand, former Indian players – Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar – want Rohit to take back his opening slot with Yashasvi Jaiswal

Ravi Shastri said on Star Sports, “That’s where he can be [Rohit Sharma] aggressive and expressive. Just thought he was a little too subdued, just seeing his body language.”

Gavaskar concurred with his former teammate, stating, “He [Rohit Sharma] should return to his regular spot.”

Meanwhile, Rohit isn’t in the best of forms as he has managed a solitary fifty in the last six Test matches. Rohit scored 42 runs in two Tests against Bangladesh whereas he could only manage 91 runs in three Test matches against New Zealand.

The third Test match between India and Australia will be played at the Gabba, Brisbane from December 14.