India captain Rohit Sharma has confirmed that KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal will continue to open the batting for India in the second test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy starting on December 06 at Adelaide.
Rohit who missed the series opener due to paternity leave, has returned to the squad bolstered by a 295-run victory in Perth. Meantime, KL Rahul seized his opportunity to bat at the top order forming a 201-run stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal who knocked 161 in the second innings of the Perth test.
Speaking at a pre-match conference, Rohit Sharma explained the decision, “KL will open the batting, and I’ll bat somewhere in the middle. Those two at the top batted brilliantly, and it’s important to keep that momentum going. It’s not an easy change for me, but it’s what’s best for the team.”
Rohit who made his Test debut as a middle order batter in 2013, scoring a memorable 177 against the West Indies at Eden Gardens.
For the first six years in his career, Rohit Sharma batted at No. 5 and 6 where he scored 1585 runs in 27 matches at an average of 39.62.
His transition to top order in 2019 has brought immense success with scoring 2685 runs at an average of 44.01 in 37 matches as an opener, including 9 of his 12 centuries.
Rohit Sharma will be returning to middle order after five years and will bring stability and depth to India’s lineup, which will be crucial in the upcoming test.
The Adelaide Oval is expected to offer assistance to both pacers and spinners. India will be keen to captialize on their 1-0 lead in the five match series, with Australia looking to bounce back after a 295-run defeat in Perth.
Rohit’s adaptability and leadership skills will be tested as India is set for another formidable challenge starting on December 06 at Adelaide Oval.
