AUS vs IND: Why Rohit Sharma needs to sacrifice his opening spot in Adelaide Test

Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Captain Rohit Sharma is set to return in India's pink-ball Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval, but questions remain over whether he should open the batting or bat in the middle order.

In Short

• Rohit Sharma rejoined the Indian squad ahead of the Adelaide Test
• Rohit was not part of India's playing XI that won the Perth Test
• Rohit hasn’t batted in the middle order since December 2018

Rohit Sharma returning to play for India is good news. Not only does he strengthen India’s batting order with a truckload of experience, but he also brings in value as a captain. Jasprit Bumrah led India to the historic Test win at the Optus Stadium in Perth, but he will make way for Rohit. After the victory, Bumrah made it clear that Rohit was in-charge of the team.

But there’s more to Rohit’s return. His inclusion in the playing XI means that India run the risk of separating an opening pair that played a huge role in their win in Perth. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul failed in the first innings after the Australian pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood did not allow the Indian batters much breathing space.

But in the second innings, it was the same duo that gave the Australian bowlers nightmares in broad daylight. Jasprit Bumrah’s five-wicket haul did give India a 46-run lead in the first innings and helped them script a turnaround, but it was Jaiswal and Rahul’s partnership of 201 that took the spirit out of a bowling line-up as experienced as Australia’s.

With Rohit returning, there are doubts over whether India will retain their opening duo from the first Test. If Rohit opens the batting, Rahul has to bear the brunt of the change. It’s pertinent to note that Rohit has opened the batting every time for India in his last 37 Tests since the Melbourne Test against Australia back in December 2018.

To not unsettle the batting order, India need to find a way to persist with Rahul and Jaiswal as the opening pair while asking Rohit to find a new slot for himself. But the question is where can Rohit bat if not opening? Is it a possibility that Rohit will again embrace the role that he used to play once upon a time in the middle order?

Opening not Rohit Sharma’s prolific position

Rohit has played match-winning knocks as an opener, scoring 2685 runs at an average of 44.01 with nine centuries and a top score of 212. But interestingly, opening isn’t where he has put in his best performance. Rohit has an average of 54.57 while batting at No.6 in Tests with 1037 runs and three centuries to his name in 16 matches.

Interestingly, it was Dhruv Jurel who batted at No.6 in Perth and failed. If need be, is there a glimmer of chance for Rohit to bat at that position? Practically, it might seem audacious and out of question, but Rohit’s history at No.6 isn’t meek by any stretch of the imagination.

After the Perth Test, Devdutt Padikkal might also be dropped. In that case, Rohit can be slotted in at No.3, which is a position almost similar to opening if a team loses an early wicket. But it isn't as straightforward as it seems. Shubman Gill is up and running after recovering from his thumb injury and is also a contender to fight for the No.3 slot.

In case India want both Rohit and Shubman in the playing XI in the top middle-order, it practically means changing the middle order and most importantly, tinkering with Virat Kohli’s No.4 slot. Had Rohit Sharma been in good form, him restarting as an opener wouldn’t have been questioned, but the right-hander will go into the series on the back of a disastrous home series against New Zealand.

Rohit Sharma’s batting numbers (position-wise)

How has Rohit done in the middle-order in Australia?

Rohit has batted in the middle-order on three different tours of Australia, in 2014-15, 2018-19 and 2020-21. In five matches, he has scored 279 runs at an average of 31. His scores in the first innings read 43, 32, 53, 37 and 63, which might not be overwhelming, but aren’t the worst either.

He scored an unbeaten 63 off 114 balls with five fours in the Melbourne Test before he missed the Sydney Test to attend the birth of his child. Hence, if Rohit bats in the middle order, it might not be the worst of decisions India has taken.

Rohit’s numbers in Australia (middle-order)

What does Pujara think?

Cheteshwar Pujara, who played a crucial role in India’s triumph in Australia on their last two tours, also talked about the possibility of Rohit batting at No.3 instead of opening the dismantling a settled duo.

"I think, for some reason, if we can carry on with the same batting order, like KL and Yashasvi to open, Rohit could come in at three, and Shubman could come in at five," Pujara told ESPNcricinfo.

"If Rohit wants to open, KL should bat at No. 3. Nothing later than that. I think he has to bat top of the order, because it suits his game really well. I hope we don't tinker around with that,” Pujara added.

Before the Adelaide Test gets underway on December 6, India have a two-day practice match against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI. India’s plans around Rohit are most likely to be clear when India bat at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.