Former batter Sanjay Manjrekar wants India to go on current form and not stature regarding opening positions in the second Test against Australia in Adelaide, which starts on Friday, December 6. Manjrekar wants the team management to stick with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top following their 201-run partnership in the second innings of the opening Test.
Manjrekar stressed that India captain Rohit Sharma should drop himself at No. 5 for the upcoming pink-ball Test. He told ESPNcricinfo:
“Will we again go by stature and the incumbent senior iconic player. I think, they will go by common sense and the current reality. Rohit Sharma himself would volunteer as captain. So, I think make the most of what you’ve already gained from that second innings.”
The cricketer-turned-commentator added:
“I think Gill considering his first Test match of the series, that numbr (No. 3) would actually ensure more success from Shubman Gill, a contribution. And Rohit Sharma as well it won’t be a massive difference from opening the innings and batting at No. 5.”
“So, No.3 would be a nice compromise. So, I think why were on this topic maybe Indian cricket also must reach a stage where they don’t give too much importance to batting positions like you have in T20 cricket that keeps swapping. So, whatever makes cricketing sense, and that always is something that maybe the Indian team management might think about,” he added.
Like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill is also set to return for the second Test. The Punjab batter had missed the series opener due to a left-hand thumb injury. Devdutt Padikkal had replaced him in the playing XI.
“I don’t see Rohit coming in at number five or six” – Harbhajan Singh on India captain Rohit Sharma’s batting position
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh reckoned that skipper Rohit Sharma wouldn’t drop himself from the top order while explaining the significance of his batting position. He told PTI (via Hindustan Times):
“I don’t see Rohit coming in at number five or six. Either Rohit will open with Yashasvi Jaiswal, with KL Rahul coming in at number three, or he will bat no later than number three.”
“Number six for Rohit wouldn’t be in the best interest of the team. Your top four in batting order should be the four pillars and someone like Rohit at the top would only add greater fillip,” he added.
As a Test opener, Rohit Sharma has 2685 runs in 64 innings at an average of 44.02, including nine tons. At No. 6, he has amassed 1.037 runs in 25 innings at an average of 54.58, comprising three tons and six half-centuries. He has scored 437 runs in 16 innings at No. 5.
Edited by Sankalp Srivastava
