With questions over his batting status following his return to the Test team, India captain Rohit Sharma will be challenged not to disrupt the team’s winning combination from Perth when he steps out for the second Test in Adelaide on Friday.
In Rohit’s absence, KL Rahul returned to open with Yasswa Jaiswal and the pair put up a strong opening stand in India’s 295-run win over Australia in the opening match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
A cloud of uncertainty has loomed over Rohit’s recent return to the red ball with modest numbers at the top of the order. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has backed Rohit to play an important role in the upcoming matches regardless of his position in the batting order.
“He (Rohit) has enough experience to see where Australia is most dangerous. Where would Australia not like to see him? He has to choose that position. And he is the leader of the pack, so he can do that,” Shastri said in the ICC review.
Shastri supported Rahul to stay at the top after scoring 77 in the second innings, with his partner Jaiswal laying the foundation for a superb century in a partnership of 201 runs.
“I think he (Rahul) should continue (opening) because Rohit has not been here (Australia) for a long time. Very soon he has to play that Prime Minister’s XI game,” Shastri said.
Shastri, one of the key figures behind the punt that gave Rohit a Test opener in the inaugural World Test Championship in 2019 during India’s tenure as head coach, the 37-year-old returned to his old middle-order position.
“I would say to continue with the same set-up. He (Rohit) can bat at five or six,” Shastri said.
Shastri also said that he will not tinker with India’s bowling line-up and boosted the batting department with Shubman Gill returning from injury.
Shastri said, ‘The fact that Shubman Gill is fit makes this a very strong Indian side. “I would say that of all the sides that have come to Australia in the last 10-15 years, it feels like this is one of the stronger batting lineups because of the experience.
“You have Shubman fit, at bat three. Once Rohit is fit, he comes back in place of (Devdutt) Padikkal and (Dhruv) Jurel. But bowling, I won’t touch. I’ll keep it the same because you have the same line-up.”