 "Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Rohit Sharma confirms KL Rahul as opener for pink ball Test in Adelaide")
India captain Rohit Sharma has confirmed that KL Rahul will continue to open the innings in the pink ball Test against Australia in Adelaide, scheduled to start from Friday (6 December) . Rahul had opened the batting along with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the first Test in Perth due to Rohit’s absence. Rohit had decided to skip the series opener in Perth following the birth of his second child, and as a result, India were led by pacer Jasprit Bumrah. India won the first Test by 295 runs.
Rohit Sharma to bat in the middle-order
Rohit said that he will bat in the middle-order. “KL will open the innings and I will play somewhere in the middle. Not easy for me but it’s the best for the team,” Rohit told journalists in Adelaide during a pre-match press conference on Thursday.
IND vs AUS | How has Team India performed in Day-Night Tests and at Adelaide Oval?
“What KL has shown outside India, he deserves that place (Openers’ slot),” Rohit added. India were dismissed for 150 in the first innings of the Perth Test, but a clinical effort from the visitors scripted their successful turnaround. Australia were all out for 104 in their first innings reply after Bumrah’s five-wicket haul. Jaiswal (161) and Rahul (77) then forged 201 runs for the first wicket in India’s second innings, setting up the platform for India.
Later, Virat Kohli too scored a century as India declared at 487/6. Australia, having been set a target of 534, were dismissed for 238.
Jaiswal and Rahul had also opened in India’s rain-curtailed practice match against Australia Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra, where the duo forged 75 runs. Jaiswal scored 45 runs whereas Rahul scored 27 before retiring hurt. Rohit batted at No 4 in that match but endured a score of three runs from 11 deliveries. Shubman Gill, who returned to action from a thumb injury, scored a half-century while batting at No 3.
‘They are very fearless’: Rohit on current generation
Rishabh Pant, too, has been a crucial player for India, having scored 460 runs from six Tests this year. Rohit spoke on the importance of having Pant, Jaiswal and Gill in the team.
“Today’s generation of boys. They are very fearless and don’t travel with a lot of baggage. Not suitcases, haha.. But in general, the pressure. Jaiswal, Gill and Pant, there are a different generation of cricketers. When we burst on to the scene, our minds used to hover around how we could score runs, we used to put a lot of pressure on ourselves. Every gen is different. Today’s boys are very different and it favours them also. Whenever I talk and listen to them,” he said.
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