BGT 2024-25: Cheteshwar Pujara backs KL Rahul to open, suggests new position for Rohit Sharma

KL Rahul forged a 201-run opening stand with Jaiswal in Perth.

As India captain and regular opener Rohit Sharma is set to return in the Adelaide test against Australia, there is a dilemma among the team management regarding the positions of Rohit, KL Rahul and Shubman GIll, who is also on his way to recovery.

Rohit missed the first BGT 2024-25 test due to the birth of his child, while Gill missed it because of a thumb injury.

In Rohit’s absence, KL Rahul opened the innings and produced two highly impressive knocks of 26 (74) and 77 (176). Rahul showed exemplary patience, grit and technique in leaving the deliveries outside the off-stump and defending the ones in the line of his body that would challenge his edges.

Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal formed a stand of 201 (383) – the highest opening partnership by India in Australia – in the second innings, which laid the foundation for a massive lead.

Rohit could come in at three: Cheteshwar Pujara

Senior Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara is against the disruption of the opening pair of Rahul and Jaiswal following the right-hander’s solid outings in Perth. Pujara opined that Rohit could slot in at No. 3 and Gill could go down at No. 5. Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel are expected to be dropped.

“I think, for some reason if we can carry on with the same batting order, like KL and Yashasvi to open, Rohit could come in at three, and Shubman could come in at five,” Pujara told ESPNcricinfo.

Rohit has been in poor form in recent times, having hit only one fifty in the last five tests, in which he averaged only 13.3.

An alternative, Pujara suggested, should Rohit open is to have Rahul bat at No. 3 and no lower than that given his ability to absorb the new ball.

“If Rohit wants to open, KL should bat at No. 3. Nothing later than that. I think he has to bat top of the order, because it suits his game really well. I hope we don’t tinker around with that,” the former No. 3 asserted

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