NEW DELHI: Going through a torrid form with the bat, India skipper Rohit Sharma should continue at No. 6 slot in the third Test against Australia in Brisbane, feels former India spinner Harbhajan Singh.
A returning Rohit, who missed the first Test, scored just 9 runs in the two innings combined of the Adelaide Test, which India lost by 10 wickets.
In the day-night game, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal opened for India while Rohit came in at No.6 but turned out to be a flop show.
Harbhajan feels that despite the defeat, the team management won’t be making any changes in the batting order for the third Test.
“I don’t think there will be any change in the batting order. We discussed that maybe Rohit Sharma should move up the order. Even (Sunil) Gavaskar sahab suggested it, but I don’t think the team management will think that way. Rohit is not in great form right now, so why would you send him up the order? I feel KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal should continue to open, with Rohit batting in the middle order,” Harbhajan said on Star Sports.
In the last 5 games (including the warm-up game PM’s XI), Rohit has 6 single-digit scores and a lonely fifty to his name. In Adelaide, Rohit had scores of 3 and 6 to his name while batting in the middle amid India’s collapses in both the innings.
IND vs AUS: India batting has been a major cause of worry
The former India spinner also predicted that Washington Sundar, who was benched for the second Test for veteran R Ashwin, will make a comeback in the third Test.
“Washington Sundar might come back for the Brisbane Test. Ashwin didn’t bowl much in Adelaide and didn’t have a major impact. Sundar, on the other hand, offers more with the bat and performed well in Perth, picking up two crucial wickets. I think he’ll get the nod,” Harbhajan explained.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is currently tied at 1-1 after India’s win in Perth and Australia’s comeback triumph in Adelaide.
The third Test begins in Brisbane from December 14.
