- Thursday, December 26, 2024
There is speculation doing rounds that in the Melbourne Test Rohit Sharma could replace KL Rahul at the top of the order
By: India Weekly
DIVINE intervention and a wagging tail might have lifted India’s sagging spirits in Brisbane but an out-of-form skipper Rohit Sharma’s batting position will be in focus against a dangerous Australia bracing to deliver the knockout punch in the ‘Boxing Day’ Test starting in Melbourne on Thursday.
The Indian skipper was the last to hit the nets on Christmas eve and there is speculation doing rounds that he could replace the team’s most assured opener, KL Rahul, at the top of the order.
If that happens, Rahul will come in at No. 3 while Shubman Gill could either play in the middle order or make way for a Dhruv Jurel in the playing eleven. The series is currently locked 1-1.
The Indian skipper stopped batting in the middle order after being elevated to the opening slot back in 2019. But he chose to come down in Adelaide and Brisbane to accommodate an in-form Rahul and first-Test centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal.
The move was a spectacular failure and it remains to be seen how the team adjusts in case Rohit opens and Gill is either dropped or bats at number five.
Asked about his batting position during the pre-match press conference, he was borderline irritated.
“Let’s not worry about that. I think who bats where, we should be discussing that within ourselves and I shouldn’t be answering this question in every press conference,” the skipper just about held his composure.
How teams are stacked
Both captains feel that 1-1 after three games is a fair reflection of the competition between the sides but things can quickly change at the MCG.
The rain-affected draw at the Gabba was like a soothing balm for India after Pink Test debacle in Adelaide.
But now, India are back at one of their favourite Australian venues where they have remained undefeated in Tests since the 2014 series.
The last two (2018-19 and 2020-21) of the three Tests (other being 2014-15) resulted in Indian wins where solid batting played its part.
But this line-up, with three young mavericks (Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill), one confident opener (KL Rahul) and a couple of ageing stalwarts (Virat Kohli and Rohit) hasn’t looked very assured.
They will have to put up their best show against a home team which isn’t exactly a runaway favourite either but has shown tremendous resilience.
Indian Bowling combination
For the hosts, all eyes will be on teenage sensation Sam Konstas, billed as one for the future with an attacking game to match Jasprit Bumrah.
Konstas would do well to know that Bumrah has already put brakes on his predecessor Nathan McSweeney’s career.
The other good news for Australia is that the marauding Travis Head is fully fit and raring to go at Melbourne which is certain to increase the creases on Rohit’s forehead.
Head had an extended session on Wednesday where he appeared for a fitness test and then looked in good touch at the nets.
With scores of 89, 140 and 152, the Indian bowlers need some special plans to counter their main threat.
Teams:
India: Rohit Sharma (captain), KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Tanush Kotian, Sarfaraz Khan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Dhruv Jurel, Devdutt Padikkal.
Australia: Pat Cummins (captain), Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marcus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland.
