NEW DELHI: Back to lead India in the day/night Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval, Rohit Sharma was a picture of confidence and looked relaxed during his press conference on Thursday.
India lead 1-0 in the five-Test series after a thumping 295-run victory in Perth under the captaincy of Jasprit Bumrah, the Test that Rohit missed due to the birth of his son.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Going into the second Test, the biggest question India faced was the batting position of KL Rahul after he put up a brilliant 201-run opening stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the second innings of the Perth Test.
When asked about his batting position in the second Test, Rohit confirmed Rahul’s batting spot.
How a change in batting position could well help Rohit Sharma in Tests
“KL will open the innings and I will play somewhere in the middle. Not easy for me but it’s the best for the team,” Rohit told reporters on the eve of the second Test.
Rohit’s Test career took a turn for the better after he began opening in 2019.
“What KL has shown outside India, he deserves that place (opening slot),” Rohit added.
Rohit said he decided to change his batting position keeping the team’s interests in mind.
“We want result, we want success. Those two guys at the top they batted brilliantly in Perth. I was watching from home. Rahul was brilliant to watch. He deserves that place at this point in time.
“There is no need to change that now, may be things will be different in future. Personally not easy for me (to move down) but for the team it made a lot of sense,” said Rohit adding that he will bat somewhere in the middle.
In India’s remarkable Perth win, Rahul – opening for the first time since February 2023 – chewed up 74 balls as India collapsed for 150 in 298 balls in their first innings. He then stayed put for 176 balls in a 201-run opening stand as Jaiswal scored 161.