"It would have been 2170 days since Rohit Sharma last batted in the middle order" - Aakash Chopra on Rohit's batting position for BGT 2024-25 2nd Test
Aakash Chopra reckons Rohit Sharma won't open for India in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 to be played in Adelaide from Friday, December 6, onwards. However, the cricketer-turned-commentator noted that the Indian captain hasn't batted in the middle order in Tests for nearly six years.
Rohit missed the first Test of India's ongoing series against Australia to spend time with his family after the birth of his second child. He batted at No. 4 in the recent practice game against the Australian Prime Minister's XI, with KL Rahul opening the batting with Yashasvi Jaiswal.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener opined that Rohit is likely to bat in the middle order, a position he isn't accustomed to lately, in the pink-ball Test against Australia.
"It looks like Rohit Sharma will not open now because there was only one pink-ball practice match against the Prime Minister's XI, and in that, Rohit came to bat down the order. He did not bat as an opener," he said (0:50).
"When the India vs Australia pink-ball Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starts in Adelaide on the 6th, it would have been 2170 days since Rohit Sharma last batted in the middle order. He did that last in 2018, six years ago, at the Melbourne ground. He hasn't batted in the middle order for India in Test cricket after that," Chopra added.
Rohit batted at No. 6 in the 2018 Boxing Day Test against Australia, scoring an unbeaten 63 in the first innings and five runs in the second essay. He managed only three runs at No. 4 against the Australian PM's XI, but will likely continue to bat in the middle order in the Adelaide Test.
"I would say it's right and from many angles" - Aakash Chopra on Rohit Sharma potentially batting in the middle order
![Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul stitched together a 201-run opening partnership in India's second innings of the first Test against Australia. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/51311-17331965459784-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that Rohit Sharma batting in the middle order would be the right call.
"I would say it's right and from many angles. KL Rahul did well in the last match. There was a 200-run partnership and because of that the Indian team made a huge total in the second innings, and won the match. So why should you change that?" he reasoned (1:25).
The reputed commentator expects Shubman Gill to bat at No. 3, with either Rohit or Rishabh Pant playing at No. 5.
"Shubman Gill will remain at No. 3. Rohit Sharma has already batted down the order. So I am thinking at No. 5. Rishabh Pant will be pushed to No. 6 unless you need a left-hander to go ahead. So the captain might go to No. 6 and Rishabh Pant might come at No. 5, but that will be very dynamic," Chopra observed.
Chopra added that Rohit will be better off batting in the middle order, considering his recent issues against the new ball.
"The second reason for that is if we see the last few series, he (Rohit) has been troubled by seam bowling even in India. Matt Henry and Bangladesh's two fast bowlers were dismissing him. So you know that the new ball is troubling Rohit Sharma a little. It may actually just work out beautifully," he said.
Chopra concluded by noting that a flexible batting order has become the new norm for India under Gautam Gambhir even in red-ball cricket. He pointed out that Virat Kohli was moved to No. 3 and No. 5 recently based on the team's requirements, with KL Rahul also being moved up and down the order.