Rohit Sharma hasn't batted in the middle order in Test cricket for six years, 27 matches, and 64 innings. The last time he did was during the Boxing Day Test at the MCG in 2018, where he scored 63 not out and five runs, contributing to a solid win for India.

He could have easily kept that streak going, but the Indian captain chose to prioritize the team's needs over his own by letting KL Rahul take the opening spot. This decision comes after Rahul's impressive performances in the Perth Test, including a 201-run partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has been Rohit's opening partner since last July.

It was pretty clear this change was on the horizon. Rohit saw Rahul's fantastic batting on TV from his home in Mumbai, and it’s likely he reminisced about their successful opening partnerships in 2021 against England, which helped India take a 2-1 lead before the final Test was postponed due to a Covid outbreak..

Rohit really believes in setting the right vibe for his team and leading by example. He laid the groundwork during the two limited-overs World Cups that were just seven months apart, starting strong in the Powerplay and pushing hard even after getting a good start. He wasn’t just looking for easy runs; he was all about making a statement. Even though he’s had a rough patch lately, with only 133 runs in his last ten Test innings and a top score of 52, he felt it was his duty to set the stage again. Putting aside any personal goals or pride, he decided to move down to the middle order, where he first made his mark over 11 years ago.

When asked on Wednesday if he knew where he would bat, Rahul mentioned he had been informed but couldn’t spill the beans. However, the captain was more open the next day. "He'll be opening the batting; I'll bat somewhere in the middle," Rohit said with a grin, knowing this was the answer Indian fans had been eagerly waiting for over the past week.

Rohit shared his thought process behind the decision, saying, “We’re all about getting results and achieving success, and those two at the top really shined in this Test match. I was at home with my newborn, watching KL bat, and it was just fantastic. I felt there was no reason to switch things up. Sure, things might change down the line, but looking at KL’s performance, especially outside India, he’s earned that spot at the top. That partnership with Jaiswal in the first Test was crucial and likely secured our win. Coming to a place like Perth and having a 500-run lead is a huge win for us. I didn’t see any need to change what was working; everything I observed from the sidelines looked great. Making that decision was pretty straightforward for me. It wasn’t easy on a personal level, but for the team, it totally made sense.”

Rohit needs to adjust to make his sacrifice worthwhile.

Rohit has made the call, and now it’s time for him to shift his mindset more than anything else, even though his technique has seen a slight tweak. He’s got his right foot lined up with the stumps, firmly planted on the batting crease, while his left leg is a bit open. Rohit has been practicing a half-step back-and-across trigger movement, which he really focused on during his time at the nets in Adelaide. By Thursday afternoon, it felt almost automatic for him. He didn’t need to consciously think about it or ask the support staff to keep an eye on him anymore.

They say it’s way easier to slide down the batting order than to move up in Test cricket. Openers face a ton of challenges, but the situation for lower-order batsmen can shift dramatically in a day-night Test, especially when stepping in under the lights with a pink ball that tends to swing a lot. If that’s the case, Rohit would be a great fit for the No. 5 spot (currently held by Rishabh Pant) or even No. 6, since his experience as an opener would really come in handy. It sounds like a solid plan on paper, but we’ll have to wait and see how it actually plays out.

Read Also: Abhishek Sharma ties Rishabh 's record for the fastest T20 century by an Indian, previously held by an IPL outcast.

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