December 5, 2024: Ravi Shastri’s assessment of Rohit Sharma’s return for the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy emphasizes the importance of his experience and leadership in bolstering India’s chances. Despite missing the first Test due to personal reasons, Rohit’s presence is seen as a “fantastic boost” for India, especially with his vast experience in Australian conditions. Shastri highlights that Rohit’s quality is unquestionable, and in a team that is currently dealing with an opening conundrum, his leadership and tactical acumen will be crucial.
The Indian team has faced challenges at the top of the order, with KL Rahul’s solid showing in the first Test in Perth, leaving the management with a tough decision. However, Shastri’s suggestion to allow Rohit to bat in a position where Australia would least want to see him is intriguing. Given Rohit’s attacking style and his ability to adapt to different situations, it makes sense to position him in a role that maximizes his strengths — potentially as a middle-order batsman.
Rohit’s ability to play the big knocks in foreign conditions — especially with the pink ball — has been a point of discussion, and while his first outing in the warm-up match was underwhelming (3 off 11 balls), it was clear that he is preparing himself for the challenge ahead. Given the ongoing dilemma about opening the innings, Rohit could provide valuable stability in the middle order, where his calm and composed approach, combined with his aggressive strokeplay, could help counter Australia’s varied attack.
Shastri’s confidence in Rohit’s leadership qualities also cannot be understated. As captain, Rohit brings an added sense of security and clarity for the team, particularly when the situation is fluid, like it currently is with the opening slot. His ability to influence the game from the middle order could also bring a significant shift in India’s batting approach. The flexibility that Rohit can offer — especially if he comes in to bat at No. 4 or 5 — could add more balance to India’s batting line-up and challenge Australia in areas where they might feel vulnerable.
The return of Shubman Gill and the good form of KL Rahul (who has been looking dangerous) mean that India has options, but having Rohit in the middle order adds another layer of depth and quality. His presence also allows the team to accommodate players like Rahul and Gill, who are both in good form, while allowing the captain to come in where he can be most impactful.
With the Test beginning in Adelaide on Friday, India will look to make the most of the experience and leadership that Rohit brings. The squad also seems balanced with the return of Gill, alongside the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, and a strong pace attack led by Jasprit Bumrah. All these elements, combined with Rohit’s return, should provide India with the tools to compete effectively against Australia in what is expected to be a tough and exciting contest.
India’s biggest challenge, as Shastri points out, will be to make the right tactical decisions regarding their batting order. With Rohit in the mix, India might just have the experience they need to tackle the Australian challenge head-on.
