Where Will KL Rahul Bat in the 2nd IND v AUS Test: Even though he had two highly impressive outings in Perth, KL Rahul is likely to be moved away from the opening spot in the 2nd BGT Test as captain and opener Rohit Sharma will return.
Rohit missed the first BGT Test due to the birth of his second child. He joined the Indian team in Perth while the match was going on and is set to feature and lead the side in the second Test.
The 2nd BGT Test is a day-night fixture that will be played with the pink ball in Adelaide from December 6. The timing of the 2nd IND vs AUS Test is 9:30 AM IST / 04:00 AM GMT / 02:30 PM LOCAL.
Rahul, who was shifted back to the opening role after being given the middle-order role last year, produced two patient-filled innings in Perth, and both times saw off the new ball. In the first innings, he scored 26 (74), and in the second innings, he scored 77 (176), forming an opening stand of 201 runs with Yashasvi Jaiswal.
However, the right-hander will have to now leave the opening role and find another slot in the playing XI as Rohit is set to return. India are also hoping that Shubman Gill, who missed the Perth Test due to a thumb injury, also recovers in time for the Adelaide Test. Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel are the batters who would be dropped if both Rohit and Gill play.
Where Will KL Rahul Bat in the 2nd IND v AUS Test in Adelaide?
Senior India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, who was a key cog in India’s twin Test series wins in Australia, believes that if Rohit opens in Adelaide, Rahul should bat at No. 3, no lower than that.
Pujara told ESPNcricinfo,
“If Rohit wants to open, KL should bat at No. 3. Nothing later than that. I think he has to bat in the top order because it suits his game really well. I hope we don’t tinker around with that.”
Where should Gill, the incumbent No. 3, bat if Rahul plays at his position?
“Ideally No. 5,” Pujara reckons. “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. 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. [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 also opined that India will continue with Washington Sundar in Adelaide ahead of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
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