The intriguing discussions surrounding Rohit Sharma's batting position will continue as the third Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series approaches, following his disappointing performance in Adelaide. Cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and Matthew Hayden found themselves in disagreement regarding whether the Indian captain should resume his role as an opener for the upcoming Test in Brisbane, set to commence on Saturday. This debate was further complicated when Hayden made a significant error on live television, much to the amusement of his Indian counterpart.

Rohit, who was absent from the opening Test in Perth, opted to bat at No. 6 in Adelaide to allow KL Rahul, who had established himself as a successful opener in the first Test, to maintain his form at the top of the order. However, this decision proved detrimental, as the 37-year-old could only muster nine runs across both innings, exacerbating concerns about his ongoing struggles in the format since September.

In an interview with Star Sports following the second Test, Gavaskar expressed his desire for Rohit to return to the opening position for the Gabba Test, believing it could provide India with a strong start. He suggested that Rahul could then bat at No. 6, taking on the responsibility of facing the second new ball.

“I believe he should return to the opening position for the next Test because he prefers the ball coming onto the bat. One can understand this innings, given that he hadn't played for some time, and Rahul and Jaiswal had a 200-run partnership in the previous match. However, Rahul can drop down the order to handle the second new ball. I am optimistic that India will perform so well in the next game that Rahul will manage the second new ball effectively,” he stated.

Conversely, Hayden disagreed with Gavaskar, arguing against making a swift change in light of the defeat in Adelaide, and supported the “technically sound” Rahul to remain as an opener. However, he mistakenly referred to “Rahul Dravid” instead of “KL Rahul.”

“I will take a slightly more stubborn approach. I will not advocate for a change at this point. While I understand the desire for a better outcome from the top three, based on what I observed in Perth, technically, Rahul Dravid is performing well. He simply needs to sustain this form for a longer period,” he remarked.

Gavaskar patiently listened to Hayden's remarks before playfully challenging the Australian cricketer, stating, “While I would certainly appreciate it if it were Rahul Dravid, as you mentioned, the reality is that it is KL Rahul.”

The former Australian batsman could not contain his laughter as he offered an apology, subsequently acknowledging that Dravid's remarkable double century at the Adelaide Oval continues to trouble him.

“My apologies, KL Rahul. I was reminiscing about Dravid's dominance here in Adelaide during the 2003/04 series, which remains a haunting memory for me,” he remarked.

Do you remember Dravid's match-winning 233?

Dravid's remarkable 12-and-a-half-hour performance occurred nearly two decades ago during India's 2003/04 tour of Australia, in response to Australia's formidable first-innings score of 556, which included Ricky Ponting's impressive 242 runs off 353 balls. In contrast to Ponting, Dravid received substantial support from VVS Laxman, reminding spectators of their memorable partnership during the Eden Gardens match two years prior.

The Indian number three batsman struck 23 fours and a single six in his 446-ball innings, establishing a record 303-run partnership for the fifth wicket as the visitors accumulated 523 runs in their first innings of the second Test. Dravid continued his exceptional form with an unbeaten 72 in the second innings, leading India to successfully chase down a target of 230, marking their first victory in Australia since 1981. This match also represented India's fourth Test win on Australian soil.

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