Former cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has suggested KL Rahul to open and Rohit Sharma to come at No. 3 for India on Day 5 of the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne. Manjrekar’s comments came after Australia amassed a 333-run lead heading into the final day of the game.
The reason behind Manjrekar’s opinion could also be due to Rahul’s impressive form in the Border Gavaskar Trophy. As an opener, he slammed 77 in the Perth Test and continued to play as an opener in the following two tests as well. The Gabba test saw him returning with an impressive knock of 84 and helped the visitors to avoid the follow-on.
However, the out-of-form Rohit chose to return to his preferred position as an opener in the ongoing game. However, he was dismissed for just 3 off 5, falling to a nothing shot against his counterpart Pat Cummins. His scores in the series are read as 18, 11, 3, 6 & 3.
According to Manjrekar, it’s crucial for the Indian team to get off to a good start and Rahul’s confidence and his successful stands with Yashasvi Jaiswal might help in achieving the objective.
“Ideally, you would want KL Rahul back at the top because it’s important to have an opening start. With the kind of form Rohit Sharma has been in, you are hoping against hope that he has another long innings under his belt. Rahul at the top restores a little more confidence, and it’s been a successful opening pair in the series. That could happen and No.3 for Rohit may not be too different from batting at the top of the order,” Manjrekar told Star Sports.
Marnus Labuschagne feels India put them under pressure on Day 4 in MCG
Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne praised India for their credible bowling performance on Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Jasprit Bumrah tore apart the opposition’s batting unit, with quick breakthroughs of Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey, as his sensational spell read as 3-1-4-3.
Labuschagne was the star performer for the hosts with a standout knock of 70 off 139. As per him, they planned to accelerate the run-rate and have a crack at India before the stumps. However, the Indian bowlers dampened their plans, resulting in them trying to slow down the scoring in their pursuit of accumulating more lead.
“We obviously had the perfect outcome for us, and that probably looked like having a bowl tonight and putting them under pressure,” he was quoted as saying by The West Australian. “But you know, the way the wicket played and the way India bowled and came out and put us under pressure in that first 40 to 50 overs, that wasn’t an option for us.
However, Marnus Labuschagne admitted that they are slightly ahead of India going into the final day of the exciting final day of the game.
“India definitely clawed it back there today, and we’re probably going into day five, 333, you know, I would say that we’re probably just ahead.”
Australia will start Day 5 on 228/9, with Nathan Lyon (41*) and Scott Boland (10*) at the crease.
FAQs
How has KL Rahul fared in tests in Australia?
446 runs in 9 games
What is Rohit Sharma’s test record in Australia?
430 runs in 10 games
