Rohit Sharma, who has typically opened the batting for India in Test cricket since 2019, has confirmed that he will bat lower down the order for the day-night Test against Australia in Adelaide. While this move may be temporary, it’s clear that KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal have impressed as the opening pair, having added 201 in the second innings of the Perth Test to set up India’s victory. As a result, despite being the captain, Rohit has had to adjust and play out of position.
“How I came to the decision to bat down the order is because we want results, we want success,” Rohit explained on Thursday. “Those two guys at the top – just looking at this one Test match – batted brilliantly. I was at home with my newborn, watching KL bat, and it was honestly brilliant to watch.
“I felt there’s no need to change that now. Maybe things will be different in the future, but based on what’s happened and what KL has shown outside India, he probably deserves that spot at this point.”
“It’s something that brought us success in the first Test. Having that big partnership with Jaiswal on the other side was probably what won us the match,” Rohit said.
While Rahul didn’t score a century, he played excellently across both innings in Perth. Jaiswal, on the other hand, did reach a century, recovering from a duck in the first innings. He was in such good form that he even pointed out that Mitchell Starc was coming on too slowly and, while Nathan Lyon might be a legend, he was getting old. India declared at 487 for 6 and went on to win by 295 runs.
“When you come to a place like Perth and put up 500-odd runs, it’s a huge achievement,” Rohit said. “What I saw from the outside looked brilliant, and there was no need to change anything.”
As he wrapped up his answer, Rohit gave a glimpse into how the team wants to operate, regardless of the result. They no longer seem to prioritize stature as much as they once did. For instance, the captain himself was stepping aside for Rahul, who had played only one of the three matches in the previous Test series.
“It was actually pretty simple for me,” Rohit said. “Personally, not easy, but for the team, it made a lot of sense.”
The team-first philosophy guided India’s decision to pick the XI they played with in Perth, even if it meant leaving out two players with a combined 800-plus Test wickets.
“It’s always tough to leave out experienced players like [Ravindra] Jadeja and [R] Ashwin,” Rohit admitted. “But I think the decision was made with what was best for the team at that particular time.”
In Canberra, India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar praised the two spinners for handling the team selection decision with maturity. Ashwin made his way onto the field just as his replacement, Washington Sundar, was about to start his spell. After fulfilling his duties as the 12th man, Ashwin approached Sundar for a brief chat before leaving the field.
With the temperature reaching 37°C the day before the match, the Adelaide pitch was kept covered to protect it from the heat. Forecasted thundershowers for the first day have now been ruled out, and the temperature is expected to rise further, possibly bringing spin into play even with the pink ball. Ashwin was seen working on his batting with head coach Gautam Gambhir, who was sending him throwdowns.
“I certainly see them playing a huge role in the rest of the series,” Rohit said about Ashwin and Jadeja, “because what they bring to the table can never be overlooked.” Regarding Washington, he added, “We’ve seen what he can do with both bat and ball. He’s got solid technique and can play anywhere in the world. When you have players like him in the team, it gives you confidence. With Washy, especially, I just hope he stays injury-free because a player like him is invaluable to the squad. He provides balance and depth that every team needs. So with Washy, I see his trajectory only going upwards.”
Rohit also praised the young batters in his team, highlighting their success overseas. When asked about how Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant have managed to excel so early in their careers, he shared his thoughts.
Rohit highlighted the fearless mentality of the younger players, noting how they approach the game differently. “The youngsters today are fearless. They don’t carry any baggage. Jaiswal, Gill, Pant — these are players from a new generation,” he said. “When we first came to Australia, we were only focused on how to score runs, often putting unnecessary pressure on ourselves. But every generation is different. Today’s players are bold and fearless, and that’s likely working in their favor.”
Rohit emphasized the mindset of the young players: “When I talk to them, they’re focused on one thing—winning the match. They don’t worry about scoring a hundred or a double-hundred. When you focus on winning, individual performances naturally follow. To win, you have to perform, and that happens automatically. If their primary focus is on winning matches, series, or tournaments, the big runs will come as a result.”
He also noted their adaptability: “If they can’t contribute with the bat, they think about what they can do in the field or with the ball. The younger generation has this mindset, which is a great thing. I’m not sure if someone specifically teaches them this, but it’s their natural approach. When they come on tour, their main goal is to win the match.”
