Former cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar feels Indian captain Rohit Sharma might sacrifice his opening slot in the Adelaide test. Manjrekar’s comments came during an interaction on ESPNcricinfo ahead of India’s second test fixture against Australia on December 6.
In the game against PM XI last week, Rohit allowed Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul to open and Shubman Gill came in at No. 3 . The Indian skipper came in at the No. 4 slot, which sent the signal of him donning the same role in the pink ball test as well.
Rohit Sharma missed the first test in Perth and Jasprit Bumrah served as the stand-in captain. With their backs against the wall, the visitors were all-out for 150. However, Bumrah led India’s fiery bowling performance to bundle out Australia for 104.
Then, Jaiswal (161) and Rahul (77) stitched a monumental 201-run stand to further dominate the proceedings. Then, Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 100 as India set up a target of 534. In response, Australia could only score 238 and lost by 295 runs.
As per Manjrekar, the Indian team management might make a bold decision to play Rohit Sharma in the middle-order, owing to their stance of playing in-form Washington Sundar ahead of veterans Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the first test.
“For me, it’s a clear indication. This is as clear as it gets. It makes a lot of sense. Just imagine, the first-ever 200-run partnership in Australia for the opening wicket. And we saw the result as well. I doubt whether this team management which is actually thinking cricket logic and current form picking somebody like a Washy over Ashwin and Jadeja, will again go by stature and the incumbent senior/iconic player at the top. “
“You go by common-sense and current reality. Rohit Sharma is somebody who will volunteer himself as captain, so I think it’s the right move. Make the most of what you have gained in that second inning,” he added.
Rohit Sharma’s form a concern for India ahead of Adelaide test
The Indian captain, Rohit Sharma has been in dismal form heading into the Adelaide test. In the two-match test series against Bangladesh, Rohit garnered 42 runs in four innings.
Then, ‘Hitman’ could score only a solitary fifty in the three-match series against New Zealand. In total, he scored only 91 runs in six innings, as India went on to lose the series 3-0.
In his latest appearance against PM XI, Rohit Sharma was dismissed on 3 off 11; however, other batters were impressive to keep the team in good stead.
With Adelaide having shorter square boundaries, and Rohit being a good puller, it will be interesting to see whether the right-hander will come back to form in the second test against Australia.
FAQs
How many runs has Rohit Sharma scored in Test cricket?
4270 runs in 64 games @42.27
When did Rohit Sharma scored his last test ton?
March 2024 against England
