Rohit Sharma Will Bat In Middle Order, KL Rahul And Yashasvi Jaiswal To Open In Adelaide Test
India secured a dominant 295-run victory over Australia in the first test, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match BGT series.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma said on Thursday that he would bat in the middle order in the second Border Gavaskar Test match in Adelaide, making room for KL Rahul to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal.
"He'll (KL Rahul) be opening the batting; I'll bat somewhere in the middle," Sharma said at a press conference on the eve of the pink-ball test match against Australia on Friday.
Rahul opened in the first test match at Perth as Sharma was in Mumbai for the birth of his second child. Rahul and Jaiswal's 201-run opening partnership in that match allowed India to dominate the host, securing a 295-run win.
The day-night match, however, poses a unique challenge for the visiting Indian batters, who will need to be at their best to counter the additional seam movement produced by the pink ball, particularly during the twilight period.
Australia, having lost only one of their 12 day-night Tests at home, will be reeling from their heavy defeat in Perth. With a 10-day break behind them, they will feel the pressure to bounce back and level the series.
If the one-day practice match in Canberra is any indication, Rohit Sharma may move down the order to allow the in-form Jaiswal and Rahul to continue opening the innings.
India secured a dominant 295-run victory over Australia in the first test, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match BGT series.
The men in blue bowled out Australia in the fourth innings, with captain Jasprit Bumrah playing a key role in the win. Australia was dismissed for 238, with the top order collapsing under a fiery spell from Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj, who took three wickets each.
With PTI Inputs
