As India gears up for the second Test against Australia, one of the key discussions revolves around where Rohit Sharma, India’s returning captain, will bat. The decision comes under the spotlight following the first Test, where questions arose about the ideal batting position for Sharma, particularly in the context of India’s opening combination and team dynamics. Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh, who has been a long-time teammate of Rohit Sharma, has weighed in on the issue, offering his clear opinion on where the experienced batter should bat.
Harbhajan believes that Rohit must be placed in the top four in the batting order for India to have the best chance of success. He emphasized that a move to the middle order, especially for the pink-ball Test against Australia, would not be in the team’s best interest. “I don’t see Rohit coming in at number five or six. Either Rohit will open with Yashasvi Jaiswal, with KL Rahul coming in at number three, or he will bat no later than number three,” Harbhajan told PTI during the inauguration of the World Tennis Cricket League.
The batting position of Rohit Sharma has become a major talking point after KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal formed a solid 201-run opening stand in the second innings of the first Test in Perth. With Jaiswal expected to retain his spot at the top, and Rahul likely to move to number three, the question arises where Rohit will fit into the lineup. With Virat Kohli confirmed at number four, the only open spot for Rohit seems to be at the top of the order, which would also leave Rahul to shift to a lower position in the order.
Harbhajan further explained that having Rohit Sharma in the middle or lower order would not provide the team with the stability it needs. “Your top four in batting order should be the four pillars and someone like Rohit at the top would only add greater fillip,” he said.
Rohit Sharma’s batting journey in Tests has evolved significantly since he first opened the innings for India in the 2019 Test series against South Africa. Prior to that, he had struggled to find a regular spot in the Test team, despite being one of the premier white-ball batters. His remarkable success as an opener since 2019, including three centuries in one series and a career tally of 2685 runs from 37 Tests, has solidified his place at the top of the order. With an average of 44.01 and nine centuries, including a top score of 212, Rohit has proven himself as one of the best openers in Test cricket today.
