India captain Rohit Sharma is set to return as an opener for the third Test against Australia, starting in Brisbane on December 14. Rohit missed the first Test in Perth due to the birth of his son, Ayaan. Upon returning to the side for the second Test in Adelaide, he batted at No. 6 in the middle order instead of his usual role as an opener.
Rohit had opted to stick with the successful opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, who shone in India’s 295-run victory in the first Test. However, the strategy faltered in the second Test as Rohit, Rahul, and Jaiswal all struggled. It also marked the first time since 2018 that Rohit batted at No. 6.
With the series tied at 1-1 and a World Test Championship (WTC) final spot on the line, Rohit was seen practicing against the new ball in the nets, signaling his return to the top of the order alongside Jaiswal.
According to multiple media reports, the underperforming Rohit Sharma faced the new ball in the nets against pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, and Mohammed Siraj, strongly indicating his return to the top of the batting order. Notably, the Indian captain had not practiced against Indian pacers with the new ball before the day-night Test in Adelaide.
In this reshuffled lineup, KL Rahul is likely to move down to No. 5. With Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal opening the innings, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli are expected to occupy the No. 3 and No. 4 spots. Rahul will follow, with Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy batting at No. 6 and No. 7, respectively.
Statistically, Rohit has struggled in recent matches, failing to score more than 20 runs in 10 of his last 12 Test innings. His record includes eight single-digit scores and only one half-century during this period.
Why Should Rohit Sharma Return to the Top?
Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar believes Rohit Sharma should reclaim his opening spot to help India score quick runs, which could benefit both the player and the team. “He should return to his regular position. We must remember that KL Rahul opened in the first Test because Rohit Sharma was unavailable,” Gavaskar explained.
“While I understand the decision to keep Rahul as an opener in the second Test after his 200-plus partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal, his failure in this match suggests it’s time for a change. Rahul should move down to No. 5 or No. 6, and Rohit should return to the top. If Rohit gets off to a quick start, he has the potential to convert it into a big century,” Gavaskar added.
