Ravi Shastri, the former head coach of the Indian national cricket team, said this Rohit Sharma should be demoted in the batting order in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Ravi Shastri stated that Rohit Sharma is an experienced campaigner and he can bat very well for the Indian team in Test cricket in the middle order.
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Where will Rohit Sharma bat in the second test against Australia?
Rohit Sharma has pulled out of the Perth Test against Australia to stay with his wife after the birth of their second child. However, he is set to return to the playing XI for the pink test match in Adelaide.
In the absence of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul was the partner Yashasvi Jaiswal The above and the couple did a good job. After failing in the first innings, Rahul and Jaiswal showed batting mastery in the second innings.
They put up a 201-run stand in 383 balls, with Yashaswi Jaiswal scoring 161 runs off 297 balls and Rahul scoring 77 runs off 176 balls.
In the pink ball tour match against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI, Jaiswal (45) along with Rahul (27) opened for India and added 75 runs together. In that match, Rohit Sharma was the No. 5 batsman in the team sheet behind KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gilland Virat Kohli.
Rohit was not named as a player, a hint that he may not continue as a killer in Test cricket. Also, he came out at number 4 against the Prime Minister’s XI and managed to record only 3 runs off 11 balls.
He is very experienced. You need that experience in the middle order – Ravi Shastri
Commenting on the ICC, Shastri said that Rohit should return to the middle order and termed it as a fantastic boost for the Indian team. He said:
“It’s a fantastic boost because there’s no doubting his quality. He’s very experienced. You need that experience in the middle order.”
Notably, Rohit Sharma started out as a middle-order batsman in Tests, before assuming a role as a batsman. In 41 innings at No. 5 or less, he scored 1,474 runs at an average of 43.35, including nine half-centuries and three centuries.
Shastri added that Rohit himself has to decide on his batting position keeping in mind the needs of the team. He said:
“It’s the right mix of experience and youth in the set-up, so whether he opens the batting or goes through the middle order is his choice.
“He has enough experience to see where it is most dangerous when it comes to Australia. Where does Australia not want to see him? This is the position he has to choose. And he’s the pack leader, so he can do it. “
I think he (Rahul) should continue (to open) because … – Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri further said that KL Rahul should be allowed to continue playing as he has been playing well and Rohit has no game time in his bag in Australian conditions. He said that No. 5 or No. 6 position would be perfect for the Indian skipper.
“I think he (Rahul) should continue to (open) because Rohit hasn’t had much time since he came here (Australia),” said Ravi Shastri.
“Soon he has to play that Prime Minister’s XI match. But I say go ahead with the same settings. He (Rohit) can bat in five or six.”
