Rohit Sharma batting at no. 3? Former Indian opener suggests crucial strategic change for India
New Delhi: Aakash Chopra has proposed a minor adjustment to India’s batting order for the fourth Test of the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Following the draw in the Brisbane Test, the thrilling five-match series is currently tied at 1-1. The two cricket giants will face off again in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, starting December 26.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Aakash opined that Indian skipper Rohit Sharma should promote himself up the batting order while dropping Shubman Gill downwards. “Rohit can think of one thing if he wishes. Come at No. 3 and send Shubman down the order,” Aakash said on his YouTube channel.
In the video, Aakash Chopra was questioned whether Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill should be dropped from India’s playing XI to accommodate emerging talents like Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan. The former cricketer-turned-commentator rejected such ideas, asserting that no changes of that nature would occur for the Melbourne Test.
“Nothing of that sort is going to happen and it shouldn’t happen as well,” Aakash said. The retired opener further voiced that fans shouldn’t be so critical of Rohit. “Will there be a change (to his place) – no. Can you leave out Rohit Sharma? Does anyone talk like that about the captain?” he added.
Although Aakash Chopra disagreed with the criticism directed at Rohit Sharma, he conceded that Shubman Gill would need to raise his performance when playing on foreign soil for India.”I totally understand that it’s been 16 innings for Shubman Gill since he has scored a 40-plus score outside Asia. It’s been a while. You have a lot of expectations from him that he will score runs, and things will change,” he concluded.
Both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill have struggled with underwhelming performances in the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Neither of them played in India’s opening Test against Australia in Perth, where the visitors secured a dominant 295-run win. Bumrah led the team and delivered a Player of the Match performance to give India the advantage. Rohit rejoined the squad in Adelaide but managed only nine runs in two innings. Gill, meanwhile, accumulated 59 runs across both innings.
The third Test in Brisbane saw a similar outcome for Rohit Sharma. He was removed by Pat Cummins for just ten runs, while Shubman Gill was dismissed for a single run. Both players will now be aiming to regain their form in Melbourne.