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Rohit Sharma (Source-X)
Just five days remain for the start of the second Test match between Australia and India. Adelaide Oval will play host to the game as Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins will lead their respective sides during the match. It is a huge game for India as they look to build on their win that they had achieved in Perth.
37-year-old Rohit Sharma is back to lead the side after missing out on the first match. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 201- run stand in the second innings created a new debate. Many former cricketers have opined that Rohit needs to bat in the middle-order in a bid to let Rahul- Jaiswal continue to open the batting.
Ever since 2019, Rohit has opened the batting for India. incidentally, the current Indian skipper had replaced Rahul at the top of the order during the series against South Africa. Post this, Rahul has opened the batting whenever the veteran Indian star has missed out on action in the Test format.
What is Rohit Sharma’s numbers in the middle order
Rohit Sharma made his Test debut for India batting at number 6 during the home series against West Indies in 2013. The 37-year-old has batted at number 3 on five occasions and at the number four spot just once. It is rumored that Rohit could bat at number 5 spot during the Adelaide Test match.
India’s skipper has batted 16 times at the number five spot and scored 437 runs with an average of 29. His best of 79 came during the 2015 Test match against Sri Lanka where he has scored three fifties. It is at the number 6 position that Rohit has had most of his success scoring 1037 runs from 25 innings with 3 centuries and 6 fifties with an average of 54.
Batting Position | Innings | Runs | 50 | 100 | Average |
5 | 16 | 437 | 3 | 0 | 29.13 |
6 | 25 | 1037 | 6 | 3 | 54.38 |
How can the move be beneficial for India?
If Rohit moves to middle order during the final flour games for India, it will give India more solidity in then middle. Over the last few matches, the new ball attack has found a way to get past India’s veteran batter. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins in particular could play on Rohit’s vulnerability against the new ball.
With KL Rahul back in his opening spot, it also open the chance for India to see off the new ball. Pink Ball Test matches are tough on the batters, especially during the final session of play where the ball tends to swing the ball. India will need some experience in the middle-order during the game in Adelaide and this is where Rohit’s presence will add huge boost for the visiting side.