AUS vs IND: Rohit Sharma confirms KL Rahul’s batting position in the Adelaide Test
AUS vs IND: There has been a lot of talk on the batting position of KL Rahul. His batting position has never been stable, and he has batted at all positions, starting from opening to number six. Rahul has also faced a lot of criticism for his inconsistent performance in Test cricket and was also dropped after the first Test against New Zealand. However, he opened the innings against Australia in the absence of Rohit Sharma in the first Test match at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
The Karnataka batter displayed excellent technique against the new ball on a difficult pitch against a strong bowling attack in both innings. He stitched together a 201-run partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the second innings and also scored 77 runs in the second innings. As Sharma is back for the second Test match, which is a pink ball Test match, and also Shubman Gill is back after missing out on the first Test due to injury, Rahul’s batting position has been unclear. Gill has batted at number three in Test cricket since the 2023 WTC Final.
Shubman Gill making a comeback to the Test 11 (Image Credit: NDTV Sports)
Rohit Sharma talks about KL Rahul and his batting position.
In the pre-match press conference ahead of the Adelaide Test, the Indian captain has cleared it out that Rahul will open the innings and Rohit will bat somewhere in the middle order. “KL will open (in Adelaide). The way he batted and his partnership with Jaiswal was instrumental in that first test win. The way he has batted outside India, he deserves it. I will bat somewhere in the middle. It was a fairly simple decision. Personally, it wasn’t easy (as a batsman), but for the team, it was an easy decision to make,” Rohit told reporters in Adelaide on Thursday.
Sharma has been under huge pressure for his lack of runs in Test cricket. He was out of form in the Test series at home against New Zealand, in which India was whitewashed 3-0. He was also dismissed for just 3 runs in the pink ball practice game against the Prime Minister’s XI. Meanwhile, India won the first Test against Australia under the captaincy of Jasprit Bumrah by 295 runs.
Scott Boland replaces injured Josh Hazlewood for the Pink Ball Test
Australian star fast bowler and the trio member of Australia’s pace network, Josh Hazelwood, has faced an injury and has been ruled out of competing in the Adelaide Test; this seems to be an eminent blow to the Australian side.
However, Scott Boland, who recently played the Prime Minister's XI game, has been called up by the Aussies to replace the lanky pacer. Boland also has a scintillating record of replacing Hazelwood on many prior occasions.
The last time, India was dismissed for their lowest score in Test cricket (36/9) in the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide in BGT 2020/21. The destroyer-in-chief in that inning was Josh Hazlewood.
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