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The new opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul shattered many records during the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test which was held in Perth's Optus Stadium. Both of them made massive contributions to India's historic 295-run win against Australia. Both of them got the chance to open together as Rohit Sharma, who usually opens for the side was on a paternity leave after becoming a father for the second time.
However, with the Indian skipper returning for the Adelaide Test, there is a big chance that this opening pair might change again. Many former cricketers and experts are suggesting that Rohit Sharma should come down to bat and let the Perth pair continue in the Pink-ball Test. During the practice game against Australia’s PMXI in Canberra, Rohit did not change the pair and came to bat at number 4 spot himself.
Former selector's advice to Indian management
Former selector Devang Gandhi has suggested that the Indian captain should stick to batting lower and let the opening pair of Jaiswal and Rahul continue for the Adelaide game as well. He even told Rohit to bat at No. 6. Notably, the Indian captain has not batted in the middle order since 2018.
"In fact, I feel Rohit should come in at No. 6, because Rishabh Pant, too, has shaped up very well at 5…The left-right combo, too, can be maintained that way," Gandhi told the Times of India.
It becomes difficult if a middle-order batter tries to become an opener in the latter stages of his career. But it will not be difficult for an opener to go in the middle order, especially for Rohit, who started as a No. 6 batter for India," he added
Rohit batted at number six during the 2018–19 tour of Australia, scoring 37, 1, 63*, and 5 in the two games played in Melbourne and Adelaide. In 2024, he travelled to Australia following a dismal series against New Zealand, in which India lost 3-0. In Pune, he only managed 91 runs in three innings, including a duck. He only managed to score 85 runs in four innings during the previous assignment against Bangladesh as well.
