Rohit Sharma's No. 6 Position: Gavaskar Supports While Ponting Raises Concerns
11 days ago | 5 Views
Indian captain Rohit Sharma made his return to the playing eleven in the second Test of the series against Australia; however, he was unable to leave a significant impact with the bat. Following KL Rahul's commendable performance as a makeshift opener in Rohit's absence during the first Test, the team opted to maintain the same opening combination, with Rohit batting at number six. Unfortunately, this decision did not yield positive results in the first innings, as the Indian captain was dismissed for just 3 runs off 23 balls.
India faced considerable challenges with the bat, being bowled out for 180 in their first innings. This situation led to a divergence of opinions between former cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Ricky Ponting regarding Rohit's batting position in the Test match. Since 2019, Rohit has primarily played as an opener in the longest format, and while Gavaskar supported the decision for him to return to the middle order, Ponting expressed a differing viewpoint.
Gavaskar articulated his reasoning: “In the previous Test, there was a 200-run partnership between Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. It is crucial not to disrupt that momentum and confidence. Additionally, Rohit Sharma has not participated in competitive cricket for over a month, with his last appearance for India on November 3, and now it is December 6.” He further noted, “It was essential for him to assess the situation, as playing with the pink ball is challenging, and India has not engaged in a pink-ball Test for approximately 2-3 years. Therefore, his decision to bat lower in the order was, in my opinion, a sound choice.”
Rohit could end up at 6 for ‘the rest of his career’
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting suggested that Rohit Sharma may be relegated to the middle-order for the remainder of his Test career, as opportunities in the top order appear limited. Ponting noted that KL Rahul and Shubman Gill have both excelled in their roles as opener and number three batsman, making it challenging for Rohit to reclaim his previous position at the top of the order.
"I actually disagree with Sunny's perspective. I believe he should have returned to the team and opened the batting. KL Rahul has been a peripheral player in this squad for several years. While he had his opportunity and performed in Perth, it now seems that Rohit Sharma is likely to spend the rest of his career batting lower down the order. Given KL Rahul's strong performance and Shubman Gill's impressive showing in the first innings, he appears to be a secure choice. The only available position for Rohit Sharma now seems to be at number six, which may be where he remains for the duration of his career," Ponting remarked.
"Rohit is undoubtedly a talented player, although his record against Australia is not particularly strong. He has managed only one century against them. The decision for the captain to return and bat in the middle order was somewhat surprising, but such choices are part of a captain's responsibilities."
The Indian captain has faced challenges in recent months within the longest format, having recorded only one half-century in five home Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand. Furthermore, Rohit experienced an unusual setback as captain when India suffered a historic 0-3 home series defeat to New Zealand in November.
