Ravi Shastri has backed Rohit Sharma to bat in the middle-order in Australia. (Reuters)
With questions emerging over his batting position upon return to the Test side, India captain Rohit Sharma will have a challenge to not disturb the team’s winning combination from Perth when he steps out in Adelaide for the second contest on Friday.
In Rohit’s absence, KL Rahul moved back upto open with Yashasv Jaiswal and the pair put up a solid opening stand during India’s 295-run victory against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener.
A cloud of uncertainty has appeared ever since with Rohit’s recent red-ball returns at the top of the order displaying meek figures. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has backed Rohit to play an important role in the upcoming games regardless of his position in the batting order.
“He’s (Rohit) 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,” Shastri told on the ICC Review.
Shastri backed Rahul to continue at the top after his stoic 77 in the second-innings set the foundation for his partner Jaiswal to build a fine hundred during their 201-run partnership.
“I think he (Rahul) should carry on (opening) because Rohit has not had much time since he’s come here (Australia). Very quickly he had to play that Prime Minister’s XI game,” Shastri said.
Shastri, one of the key men behind the punt to make Rohit open in Tests during the inaugural World Test Championship in 2019 during his India head coach tenure, said the 37-year-old slide back down to his old middle-order spot.
“I would say carry on with the same setup. He [Rohit] can bat at five or six,” remarked Shastri.
Shastri also said that he would not tinker with India’s bowling line-up with Shubman Gill’s return from injury also boosting the batting department.
“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.
“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.”
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