On the eve of the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India captain Rohit Sharma announced that he would move back to the middle order. Speaking to the media in Adelaide on Thursday, Rohit confirmed that KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal would open the batting for India in the pink-ball Test.
“Yeah, he will be opening the batting. I will bat somewhere in the middle,” Rohit said.
Captain Rohit Sharma has made a bold decision to relinquish his preferred opening spot to KL Rahul following the Karnataka batter’s stellar performance in India’s 295-run victory in Perth. During Rohit’s absence, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rahul opened the innings, forging a game-changing 201-run partnership in the second innings at the Optus Stadium.
Since being promoted to the top of the order in 2019, Rohit has exclusively opened for India in Tests. This move, initiated by former captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri, marked a turning point in his Test career, helping him achieve the form and consistency that had previously eluded him in the longest format.
Rohit has since opened in 42 Tests, amassing nearly 3,000 runs at an average of 44, including 9 centuries.
“KL Rahul Has Earned The Opening Spot”
The Indian captain elaborated on his decision, expressing his delight at watching Rahul and Jaiswal take on the Australian bowlers so effectively in Perth. Rohit had missed the first Test to be with his wife for the birth of their second child.
He rejoined the squad in Perth and started training with the pink ball during the first Test. In a two-day warm-up match in Canberra, Rohit batted in the middle order, while KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal opened. The game was shortened to a single day due to rain.
“And how I came to the decision of batting down the order is clearly we want results, we want success, and those two guys at the top… just looking at this one Test match, they batted brilliantly,” Rohit said.
“I was at home with my newborn in my arms, and I was watching how KL batted. It was brilliant to watch. I felt that there’s no need to change that now. Maybe in the future, things will be different. I don’t know. “
“Given KL Rahul’s performances overseas and his impact in the first Test, he deserves the spot. His partnership with Jaiswal was pivotal, helping us post 500 runs in Perth and secure a crucial win.”
“I don’t see any reason to change that. From the outside, it looked fantastic, and there was no need for adjustments. For me personally, it wasn’t an easy decision, but for the team, it made perfect sense,” he said.
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