'KL Rahul and Yashasvi to open, Rohit could come...': Cheteshwar Pujara wants India to not 'tinker around with' batting lineup after Perth Test

Rohit Sharma who missed the first Test match against Australia due to personal reasons has joined the squad and will feature in the second Test.

Sports Tak

• Thu • 28 Nov 2024

KL Rahul with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma

Highlights:

Rohit Sharma missed the first Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul opened India's batting in absence of Rohit Sharma.

Cheteshwar Pujara wants Rohit Sharma to bat at number three in 2nd Test against Australia.

India veteran cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara reckons that the Rohit Sharma-led side should not tinker around the batting order for the upcoming second Test which will be a pink ball day-night clash scheduled to start from December 6 in Adelaide. Indian cricketers Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma missed the first Test match which was played in Perth has joined the squad for the remaining series. Rohit missed the clash because he was on paternity leave following the birth of his second child. On the other hand, Shubman who was sweating out at WACA alongside the team fractured his thumb while fielding in slips.

In the absence of Rohit, KL Rahul opened the batting alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal and the duo stitched a historic partnership of 201 runs that helped the visitors to win the clash by 295 runs.

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Pujara wants Rohit could come to bat at number three and Gill to play at number five considering KL Rahul's performance while opening in Perth.

"I think, for some reason if we can carry on with the same batting order, like KL and Yashasvi to open, Rohit could come in at three, and Shubman could come in at five," Pujara said in a chat with ESPNcricinfo.

Pujara also said that batting in top order suits KL Rahul's game. He suggested that if Rohit wants to open then KL Rahul should bat at number three.

"If Rohit wants to open, KL should bat at No. 3. Nothing later than that. I think he has to bat top of the order, because it suits his game really well. I hope we don't tinker around with that" added Pujara.

Pujara explained that sending Gill to bat at number three so that Pant will face the old ball.

"Ideally No. 5. Because it allows him to come in at a time, even if we lose two wickets early, he is someone who can negotiate the new ball," Pujara said. "But if he walks in after, say, 25 or 30 overs, he can play his shots. He can play his natural game. And in case we lose the first three wickets early, Gill walks in and saves Rishabh Pant for the old ball. [Pant] doesn't have to face the new ball. I wouldn't want him to walk in to bat when the ball is hard and new" he also said.

Team India are set to play a day-and-night practice match against the Prime Minister’s XI scheduled at the Manuka Oval on Saturday and Sunday, Rohit Sharma’s men will resume training on Friday.