3 reasons why Rohit Sharma's return will be a boost to India in BGT 2024-25
After missing the first Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) to spend time with his family following the birth of his son Ahaan on November 15, skipper Rohit Sharma is back in Australia and will take the field for the second Test (pink-ball) starting Friday, December 6, in Adelaide.
The visitors were outstanding in the first Test, securing a dominant 295-run victory, with stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah leading the charge by taking eight wickets. KL Rahul also made a solid contribution with the bat, scoring 103 runs across two innings. Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal (161) and Virat Kohli (100*) impressed with strong performances in the second innings.
With India already brimming with confidence, the return of Rohit Sharma will only strengthen their position. The 37-year-old has played 64 Tests, scoring 4,270 runs at an average of 42.27, including 18 fifties and 12 centuries.
As India prepare for the pink-ball Test, here are three reasons why Rohit Sharma's return will provide a significant boost to India in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
#1 Provide consistency with the bat
While Rohit Sharma missed the first two matches of the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia due to injury, he played a pivotal role in India’s triumph in the final two Tests. India's opening partnerships in the first two games struggled, with 16 runs being the highest across four innings.
However, things changed with Rohit's arrival. In the third Test, he and Shubman Gill formed two consecutive partnerships of over fifty runs, with Rohit scoring a half-century in the second innings.
Rohit also contributed with the bat in the fourth Test, making 44 runs in the first innings, though he was dismissed for just 7 in the second innings. The 37-year-old has consistently made valuable contributions in Australia, accumulating 408 runs in seven Tests, including three fifties.
#2 He has a great winning percentage as captain
India struggled during their series against New Zealand, suffering a 3-0 clean sweep, with Rohit Sharma acknowledging his own flaws in captaincy. On the other hand, Jasprit Bumrah was outstanding during his captaincy in the first Test against Australia, although he sometimes overexerted himself during the match.
However, Rohit has consistently shown strong leadership qualities, knowing how to manage players and making the right calls on when to use them. Despite the tough 3-0 loss to New Zealand, Rohit has led India to 12 wins and 7 losses, maintaining a win percentage of 57.14%. Under his leadership, India also defeated England at home and drew the away series against South Africa.
With Rohit back in the team, his ability to manage the mental and emotional aspects of the game will be vital in a high-pressure series like the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
#3 Offers flexibility in the batting order
Although Rohit Sharma has been India’s opener for the past six years, he remains flexible and capable of batting at different positions. In the first BGT Test, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal were outstanding, forming a 201-run partnership in the second innings — the highest by an Indian opening pair in Australia.
This raises the question of whether Rohit will continue to open in the second Test. In the ongoing warm-up game between India and PMXI, Rahul and Jaiswal opened the innings, suggesting that Rohit may bat in the middle order for the upcoming match.
Rohit could return to his previous No. 6 position, where he has a stellar record, scoring 1,037 runs in 25 innings at an average of 54.58. As an opener, he has accumulated 2,685 runs in 64 innings at an average of 44.02. These numbers highlight Rohit's versatility and his ability to perform in various positions.
If he does move to the middle order, alongside Rishabh Pant, Rohit could provide a counter-attacking option, especially when bowlers are fatigued. This would significantly enhance India’s batting depth, making Rohit’s return to the team even more valuable.