Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra said that Rohit Sharma won’t open for India in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 which will be played in Adelaide from Friday, December 6, onwards. However, he also added that the Indian captain hasn’t batted in the middle order in Tests for nearly six years as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “It looks like Rohit Sharma will not open now because there was only one pink-ball practice match against the Prime Minister’s XI, and in that, Rohit came to bat down the order. He did not bat as an opener. When the India vs Australia pink-ball Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starts in Adelaide on the 6th, it would have been 2170 days since Rohit Sharma last batted in the middle order. He did that last in 2018, six years ago, at the Melbourne ground. He hasn’t batted in the middle order for India in Test cricket after that.”
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In the same video, Aakash Chopra also stated that Rohit Sharma batting in the middle order would be the right call as well.
“I would say it’s right and from many angles. KL Rahul did well in the last match. There was a 200-run partnership and because of that the Indian team made a huge total in the second innings, and won the match. So why should you change that?” he added. “Shubman Gill will remain at No. 3. Rohit Sharma has already batted down the order. So I am thinking at No. 5. Rishabh Pant will be pushed to No. 6 unless you need a left-hander to go ahead. So the captain might go to No. 6 and Rishabh Pant might come at No. 5, but that will be very dynamic.”
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“The second reason for that is if we see the last few series, he (Rohit) has been troubled by seam bowling even in India. Matt Henry and Bangladesh’s two fast bowlers were dismissing him. So you know that the new ball is troubling Rohit Sharma a little. It may actually just work out beautifully,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
