BGT 2024-25: Rohit Sharma confirms KL Rahul and his batting position for Adelaide test

Rohit Sharma missed the first test in Perth due to the birth of his second child.

India captain Rohit Sharma has confirmed the batting positions of himself and KL Rahul for the upcoming second BGT 2024-25 test in Adelaide, a point that has been heavily discussed and debated over the last 10 days.

Rohit missed the first test against Australia in Perth, which India won by 295 runs under Jasprit Bumrah’s captaincy, due to the birth of his second child.

In his absence, KL Rahul opened the innings after being given the middle-order role last year. Rahul put up exemplary performances in both his innings in Perth, scoring 26 (74) and 77 (176). He recorded a partnership of 201 runs with Yashasvi Jaiswal, the highest opening stand by an Indian pair in Australia in test cricket.

He was outstanding in dealing with the balls outside the off-stump: Rahul showed immense patience in not getting sucked in by length balls and only unfurled his shots when it was either too full or too short.

Rohit featured in the warm-up match against PM’s XI but batted at No. 4 as Virat Kohli was rested while Rahul opened with Jaiswal.

That was an indication of India’s plans for the Adelaide test and perhaps for the rest of the series. The Indian captain confirmed the same in the press conference on the eve of the day-night test, hailing Rahul’s contribution in India’s massive 295-run win in Perth.

Where will KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma bat in the second test in Adelaide?

Rohit confirmed that Rahul will open with Jaiswal in the Adelaide test and he will slot in the middle-order.

“KL will open (in Adelaide). The way he batted and his partnership with Jaiswal was instrumental in that first test win. The way he has batted outside India, he deserves it. I will bat somewhere in the middle. It was a fairly simple decision. Personally, it wasn’t easy (as a batsman) but for the team, it was an easy decision to make,” Rohit said on Thursday.

Rohit’s own form in the home season was terrible – in 10 innings against Bangladesh and New Zealand, he averaged only 13 and crossed the 25-run mark only once – and perhaps a shift in the middle-order might help him put up a big score.

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