Indian captain Rohit Sharma is set to return for the Adelaide Test, beginning on December 6. He missed the first Test due to the birth of his second child. In his absence, KL Rahul opened the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal, and the duo played a pivotal role in India’s victory with a 201-run partnership in the second innings. With Rohit’s return, the big question is: what batting position will he take? Some cricket experts suggest that Rohit should bat at No. 5 or 6. However, former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh believes Rohit will likely open or bat at No. 3.
Harbhajan’s Advice
Harbhajan stated, “I don’t think Rohit will bat at No. 5 or 6. He will open the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal, while Rahul might bat at No. 3 or later. Batting at No. 6 won’t be in the team’s best interest for Rohit. Your top four batters should be the pillars of your batting lineup, and having someone like Rohit at the top strengthens the team significantly.”
Rohit’s Quiet Outing in the Warm-Up Match
In the warm-up match against Australia’s Prime Minister’s XI, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal opened the innings, adding a 75-run stand for the first wicket. Rohit batted at No. 4 but managed only three runs before being dismissed. Despite this, the team is expected to stick with the same lineup for the second Test in Adelaide.
Pressure to Return to Form
Rohit will be under pressure to regain his form. In recent Test series against New Zealand and Bangladesh, he struggled to score. Against New Zealand, he managed only 91 runs in six innings, including a duck. Against Bangladesh, he scored just 42 runs across four innings. Fans will be hoping for a strong performance from the Hitman in the Adelaide Test.