Sanjay Manjrekar supports KL Rahul continuing as India’s Test opener alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, despite Rohit Sharma’s return. After breaking records with a 200-plus partnership in Perth, Sanjay Manjrekar emphasizes current form over seniority in India’s batting lineup choices for the Adelaide Test against Australia. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul stitched a double-century stand as openers in Perth’s second innings, making a strong case to retain their partnership.
During India’s practice match against Australia’s PM XI in Canberra, Rohit walked in to bat at No.4 while Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul opened the innings and Shubman Gill was slotted at No.3. Rohit’s demotion in the batting order was a hint that he could possibly bat in the middle order during the Adelaide Test.
Team India faces a good headache ahead of openers ahead of 2nd Test at Adelaide
India face a selection headache ahead of the pink-ball Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval. Rohit Sharma, who missed the first Test due to paternity leave, is set to return as a captain.
Shubman Gill, who was ruled out of the Perth Test due to a fractured thumb, is also back in contention. With Rohit and fit-again Gill set to return to the playing XI, likely replacing Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel, the team management must address the opening combination. The pair managed to create history by achieving a 200-plus opening partnership in a Test match on Australian ground. Jaiswal’s scintillating 161 was matched by Rahul’s pressure-absorbing innings, allowing his partner to play with abandon
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul stitched a double-century stand as openers in Perth’s second innings, making a strong case to retain their partnership. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul also looked good in the warm-up fixture, which was curtailed to a 46-over per side contest, returning with scores of 45 and 27 (retired hurt) respectively.
It was a clear signal as Rohit Sharma came out to bat at No. 4 as India played a pink-ball practice match against Prime Minister’s XI at the Manuka Oval in Canberra for Sanjay Manjrekar that Rohit won’t be opening in the next 2nd Test with Australia at Adelaide. His batting position has been the subject of much discussion, especially after India has started to see through their batting order, as they head into what would be the most vital day-night Test.
Traditionally, Rohit Sharma has always opened for India in Tests, but the stunning performances of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul at the top of the order in the second innings of the Perth Test bring a dilemma to the team management. The last time Rohit didn’t open for India was in a Test match in 2018 during the Boxing Day Test against Australia. But now this decision is rest in the hands of the head coach Gautam Gambhir, Rohit himself, and the team management as India wants to move forward in the series as well.
In Perth, KL Rahul, who replaced Rohit at the top, played a solid knock of 77 in the second innings, while Jaiswal produced a stunning 161. The pair put on a record 201-run partnership, which set the foundation for India’s dominant 295-run victory. While Rohit could return to the opening spot, doing so might disrupt the winning combination—something India would likely want to avoid against a formidable Australian team.
Amid the dilemma, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has opined that the Indian team management should go with the opening partnership of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul.
Sanjay Manjrekar backs KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal to open in 2nd Test
Former batter Sanjay Manjrekar wants India to go on current form and not stature regarding opening positions in the second Test against Australia in Adelaide, which starts on Friday, December 6. Manjrekar wants the team management to stick with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top following their 201-run partnership in the second innings of the opening Test.
Manjrekar stressed that India captain Rohit Sharma should drop himself at No. 5 for the upcoming pink-ball Test. He told ESPNCricinfo:
“Will we again go by stature and the incumbent senior iconic player. I think, they will go by common sense and the current reality. Rohit Sharma himself would volunteer as captain. So, I think make the most of what you’ve already gained from that second innings.”
The cricketer-turned-commentator added:
“I think Gill considering his first Test match of the series, that number (No. 3) would actually ensure more success from Shubman Gill, a contribution. And Rohit Sharma as well it won’t be a massive difference from opening the innings and batting at No. 5.”
“So, No.3 would be a nice compromise. So, I think why were on this topic maybe Indian cricket also must reach a stage where they don’t give too much importance to batting positions like you have in T20 cricket that keeps swapping. So, whatever makes cricketing sense, and that always is something that maybe the Indian team management might think about,” he added.
Like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill is also set to return for the second Test. The Punjab batter had missed the series opener due to a left-hand thumb injury. Devdutt Padikkal had replaced him in the playing XI. As a Test opener, Rohit Sharma has 2685 runs in 64 innings at an average of 44.02, including nine tons.
At No. 6, he has amassed 1.037 runs in 25 innings at an average of 54.58, comprising three tons and six half-centuries. He has scored 437 runs in 16 innings at No. 5. India lead the five-match series 1-0 after a thumping 295-run win in the Perth Test under the captaincy of Jasprit Bumrah. With the day-night Test approaching, India’s lineup debates will soon settle. The team is in excellent form, winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener and a warm-up game in Canberra.