Former Indian batter Devang Gandhi wants Rohit Sharma to bat in the middle order in Adelaide

Former India player and selector Devang Gandhi has suggested that Rohit Sharma should bat at number 6 spot. The Indian skipper has been heavily rumoured to make the move down the order to continue with the Jaiswal and Rahul duo who did well in Perth. Devang Gandhi who played a handful of Test matches for India spoke to Times of India recently. 

During his chat with Times of India, Devang Gandhi said, “I feel Rohit should bat at No.6 because Rishabh Pant has been consistent at 5. The left-right combo can be maintained as well, It is not easy for a middle-order to open the batting but an opener can easily bat in the middle order, especially for Rohit, who started his career at No.6 for India.”

It is to be noted that Rohit Sharma started his Test career at number six. The 37-year-old hit two centuries in his debut series and scored over 1000 runs with an average of 54. The Indian skipper has also scored 3 centuries and 6 fifties during his stint at number six in Test cricket. 

Devang Gandhi wants India to continue with Washington Sundar

The former Indian batter during his chat with PTI said that young Washington Sundar should play the 2nd Test. Ravindra Jadeja played the warm-up match on Sunday with Ashwin nowhere in the picture. The 38-year-old is currently on his last tour of Australia and was one of the best bowlers during the 2020 Test taking 4/55. 

Gandhi said to PTI, “I do feel that the current form has been take into consideration. The Indian team management wanted to go in with a team that had confidence and didn’t exactly look at the past records. Sundar bowled well against New Zealand is a reliable lower middle-order batter. So it does make sense.”

The former India star also added, “In Australian conditions, you want a restrictive option. This isn’t to say that Sundar can’t be attacking. India’s bowling game plan will revolve around Bumrah, Siraj, Harshit Rana, and Mohammed Shami if he is included in the latter stages of the tour.”

“Spinner’s job will be to give respite to these speed merchants and bowl one line. Also, you need to be a steady batter. He did well in Brisbane last series and also looked good  in Perth during the second innings. He batted well in Canberra, he is going to be the first choice," he added.