Ravi Shastri, former India head coach and now a commentator has shown support for Rohit Sharma to bat in the middle order for the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test, which is to be played in Adelaide. According to Shastri, KL Rahul should continue to bat as an opener alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rohit Sharma, who missed the opening Test in Perth due to the birth of his second child, is now ready to return to the captaincy for the pink-ball Test in Adelaide which will be starting from Friday.
At What Position Will Rohit Sharma Bat On?
The debate has been where Rohit should bat on his return. Though he is an opener, Rahul, who replaced him in Perth, played a key role in India’s victory with a solid 77 in the second innings, contributing to a record 201-run opening partnership. That has led to debates whether Rohit should retain his top spot or drop down the order.
Ravi Shastri’s Insightful Take
Shastri on the ICC Review said he backed the idea of Rohit batting at No. 5 explaining that it would catch Australia off guard given his experience. Rohit has been batting in the middle order, having started his career there. In Test cricket, he has played 41 innings at No. 5 position or lower, where he has scored 1,474 runs at an average of 43.45, including three centuries and nine fifties. The last time he batted outside the top two was in the 2018/19 tour of Australia when he made a half-century in Melbourne, a crucial one.
‘He’s Experienced Enough To See Where He Is Most Dangerous’
“It’s the right mix of experience and youth in the setup, so whether he opens the batting or goes in the middle order, the choice is his,” Shastri said.
“He’s experienced enough to see where he’s most dangerous when it comes to Australia. Where would Australia not like to see him? That’s the position he should choose. And he’s the leader of the pack, so he can afford to do that.”
KL Rahul Should Go As An Opener
Shastri also pointed out that the last two knocks Rahul had, 77 in Perth and an unbeaten 27 in a pink-ball warm-up match in Canberra, proved that he had his rhythm going as an opener and, thus, further justified that Rohit should bat at a position other than at the top. In addition to that, with Shubman Gill returning to the XI after missing the first test due to a thumb injury, Shastri finds India’s batting lineup at present is stronger and has been one of the better ones in recent times.
KL Rahul Should Carry Forward With The Momentum
“I think he (Rahul) should carry on (opening) because Rohit has not had much time since he’s come here (Australia),” Shastri said.
“Very quickly he had to play that Prime Minister’s XI game. But I would say carry on with the same setup. He [Rohit] can bat at five or six.”
‘This Is One Of The Strongest Batting Lineups’
“The fact that Shubman Gill is fit as well makes it a very strong Indian side,” Shastri said.
“I would say in the last 10-15 years, of all the sides that have come out to Australia, you get the feeling that this is one of the strongest batting line-ups simply because of the experience.
Same Bowling Lineup Should Be There, According To Shastri
“You have Shubman fit, bats at three. Rohit’s fit, he comes back and plays instead of (Devdutt) Padikkal and (Dhruv) Jurel.
“But the bowling, I won’t touch. I’ll keep it the same because you’d rather have the same line-up.”
