"Will look to be ultra-aggressive to Nathan Lyon" - Michael Clarke picks Rohit Sharma's ideal batting position in 2nd BGT 2024-25 Test
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke called on the returning Indian skipper Rohit Sharma to bat at No. 5 in the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against Australia, starting at Adelaide on Friday, December 6. Team India won the opening Test in Perth in Rohit's absence by a massive 295 runs to capture a 1-0 series lead.
While they ticked almost all boxes in the Perth Test without top-order stars Rohit and Shubman Gill, the duo's return for the Adelaide outing opens up potential headaches for the Indian think tank. Rohit's replacement at the top, KL Rahul looked India's most assured batter against the moving ball with scores of 26 and 77 in the two innings.
He and his opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal added 201 for the first wicket in the second innings as India amassed 487/6 in the second innings. As a result, questions about Rohit possibly giving up his customary opening position to ensure continuity at the top have been doing the rounds.
Clarke spoke about the same on the Around the Wicket podcast.
"I think he will bat at No. 5 in the Test match. They'll leave KL Rahul up at the top. Shubman Gill looks fit as well; he made some runs, so he will come back in at No. 3. Virat 4, and I think the skipper will bat 5. If he wants to open, he opens; if he wants to bat 5, he'll bat five. He is extremely aggressive, takes on the short ball, dominates spin bowling, and will look to be ultra-aggressive to Nathan Lyon through the middle of the innings," he said.
"So yeah, if he chooses to bat 5, I can see why It's his role to work out what's best for the team and go with that. In Australian conditions, I can understand if he does bat five, now that KL Rahul looked good in the first Test," Clarke added.
Rohit has never batted anywhere except at the top in Tests since the 2018-19 Australian tour.
Yet, the 37-year-old did start his Test career batting predominantly in the lower middle order at No. 5 and 6, averaging 29.13 and 54.57, respectively.
"Team looks a lot better with Rohit at 5" - Aaron Finch
Another former Australian captain Aaron Finch agreed with Michael Clarke and suggested Rohit Sharma batting at No. 5 makes India a more dangerous proposition.
Despite his stellar overall record, Rohit's recent Test form has been far from impressive with an average of under 16 in India's most recent three-match home series against New Zealand.
"If he (Rohit) bats at five, with the ball getting a little bit softer, it can be hard to score. But India are so aggressive through that middle order. It will be a fascinating watch because that team looks a lot better with Rohit at 5, in my opinion. KL Rahul looked the best of the Indian batters in really difficult conditions, particularly in the first innings, so they'll leave him at the top," said Finch on the Around the Wicket podcast.
With Gill certain to bat a No.3 - a position he has made his own in the recent Tests, and Virat Kohli at No. 5, Rohit's best non-opening option will likely be No. 5 or 6.
The champion batter has batted at No. 6 in eight Test innings Down Under but averages an underwhelming 28.14.