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With captain Rohit Sharma set to return, India face a conundrum for the second Test of whether to continue with the successful opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul or to drop Rahul down the order. ( Full Coverage | More Cricket News ) Rohit and Jaiswal are India's regular openers in Test cricket but Rahul filled in for the India captain as he missed the first Test. Jaiswal and Rahul put on a record 201-run partnership for the first wicket in the second innings to set up the foundation of a match-winning score.
In fact, Rahul impressed in both the innings with his defence and scored 26 and 77 in the Test match which India won by 295 runs. With Rohit set to return, India are facing a big dilemma. BY Outlook Sports Desk Cheteshwar Pujara, the rock of Indian batting on the previous two tours of Australia, feels the opening combination should not be tinkered with.
"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 said in a chat with 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 also said that Shubman Gill, who bats at three in the Indian Test team, should be pushed down to number five. "Ideally No. 5 (for Gill).
Because it allows him to come in at a time, even if we lose two wickets early, he is someone who can negotiate the new ball," Pujara said. "But if he walks in after, say, 25 or 30 overs, he can play his shots. He can play his natural game.
And in case we lose the first three wickets early, Gill walks in and saves Rishabh Pant for the old ball. Advertisement "[Pant] doesn't have to face the new ball. I wouldn't want him to walk in to bat when the ball is hard and new," Pujara added.
The Player of the Series in India's first ever Test series win in Australia in 2018-19, Pujara said that the bowling attack should not see any changes. "Our bowling was very good in the first Test match. There is no need for any change in bowling.
Washington has also taken two wickets. The way Harshit bowled, the way Nitesh bowled, there is no need for any change there. And Bumrah and Siraj are bowling very well.
" Advertisement India will play a two-day warm up game in Canberra ahead of the pink-ball Test in Adelaide. Things would become a bit clearer regarding the batting order in the warm-up match..
