Rohit Sharma has confirmed that KL Rahul will open in Adelaide test
Ahead of the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, Rohit Sharma confirmed that KL Rahul will continue to open the innings, while he will move “somewhere in the middle.”
Rahul, who hadn’t opened in Tests since February 2023, impressed at the top of the order in Perth during Rohit’s absence.
“KL will open the innings, and I will play somewhere in the middle,” Rohit confirmed on Thursday (December 5).
“It’s not easy for me, but it’s the best decision for the team.
What KL has shown outside India, he truly deserves the opening slot.”
With Rohit’s return for the second Test, the question arose as to whether Rahul would be pushed back to the middle order.
Rahul had showcased excellent technical skills in Perth, playing within the line of the ball when facing tough pace attacks.
He scored a patient 26 off 74 balls in India’s first innings, which ended at 150, and followed it up with a crucial 77 off 176 balls in the second innings.
Rohit praised Rahul’s performance and his partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal, acknowledging that while the shift to the middle order might not be easy for him, it made the most sense for the team.
“We want results and success.
Those two guys [Rahul and Jaiswal] at the top batted brilliantly in Perth.
I was watching from home, and Rahul was fantastic.
He deserves the opening spot now.
There’s no need to change that.
Maybe things will be different in the future.
Personally, it’s not easy for me, but for the team, it makes sense,” Rohit said.
In addition to the top-order changes, India also introduced debutants Nitish Reddy and Harshit Rana in the middle and lower order.
Both players showed maturity and composure, impressing Rohit with their contributions in both innings.
“It was impressive to watch them.
I had only heard about them and seen them in some T20 games before they arrived, but they clearly have a lot of talent.
In the first Test in Perth, it never felt like they were debutants,” Rohit said.
Nitish top-scored with 41 in the first innings amid a collapse, while Rana bowled brilliantly in tandem with Jasprit Bumrah, taking three wickets in the first innings, including a stunning delivery to dismiss Travis Head.
Nitish’s counter-attacking knock helped hasten India’s declaration in the second innings, while Rana played a key role in dismissing Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey, contributing to one of India’s most famous away victories.
“Right from the start, they were all in, doing everything asked of them.
Both showed great body language.
Watching from home, it looked superb.
These are the kinds of players you need when aiming for big series wins.
They were ready to take the heat, and that’s exactly what they did.
It’s an impressive start to their careers, and I hope they keep playing for the team and continue delivering performances,” Rohit added.
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