Rohit settles India's opener debate ahead of second Australia Test
In the absence of the Indian skipper, KL Rahul had opened the batting for India in Perth Test, stitching together a crucial 201-run stand that inspired a mammoth win.
Making a comeback for the Adelaide Test starting Friday, Rohit Sharma put to rest the biggest query pertaining to the visiting side’s playing combination.
The Indian captain confirmed that the team will stick to its opening combination of KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal while he will slot in the middle order.
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Speaking to the reporters on Thursday, Rohit said, “KL will open (in Adelaide). The way he batted and his partnership with Jaiswal was instrumental in that first test win.”
While Rohit - India’s regular opener in the format - admitted the call wasn’t an easy one to make as a batter, he added that it was in the best interest of the team.
“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 but for the team, it was an easy decision to make,” he said.
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In the skipper’s absence in Perth, KL Rahul emerged as one of the key contributors with the bat, piling a crucial 77 runs off 176 deliveries in the second innings to help India stretch a first innings lead.
"I was at home with my newborn in my arms, and I was watching how KL batted,” Rohit said.
“It was brilliant to watch. I felt that there's no need to change that now. Maybe in the future, things will be different. I don't know. Based on what has happened and what KL Rahul has shown outside of India, he probably deserves that place at this point in time. It is something that has brought us success in the first Test.”
The 37-year-old commended the partnership between Rahul and Jaiswal, who was the highest scorer for India in his first Test Down Under.
"You have that one big partnership with Jaiswal on the other side, and you know, it probably won us the Test match. When you come here, in a place like Perth, and you get 500 runs or so, it’s such a massive tick in the box,” Rohit added.
Another notable call from the visitors in the first Test saw Washington Sundar start ahead of veteran spin all-rounders, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
Explaining the decision to bench the duo, Rohit added that the two will be key to India’s plans moving forward in the five-Test series.
“I wasn’t there personally to break the news to Ashwin and Jadeja that they won’t be playing at Perth. The management went with the best team they thought that suited that pitch. These two will play a role in the rest of the series. They have been massive to India’s record in the past. We shall look at the pitches and decide,” Rohit said.
The skipper also lauded Washington Sundar, adding that the 25-year-old’s presence in the squad added to the team’s morale.
“Washington came to Australia on the last tour, got crucial runs and took wickets. Unfortunately, he got injured. He is a solid all-rounder. The team gets confident with players like him. I just hope he stays injury free. I only see his graph going up from here.”