BGT 2024-25: Pujara Backs KL Rahul As Opener, Rohit’s New Role
Cheteshwar Pujara supports KL Rahul as India’s opener in BGT 2024-25, suggests a new batting spot for Rohit Sharma. Key changes expected in India’s lineup.
In the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25, there is a lot of discussion about the opening positions in India’s batting lineup. Cheteshwar Pujara, one of India’s senior players, has voiced his opinion. He believes KL Rahul should continue to open the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal. He also suggested a new position for Rohit Sharma in the batting order.
During the first BGT test in Perth, KL Rahul and Jaiswal formed a strong opening partnership. They scored 201 runs together, the highest opening stand by India in Australia. Rahul’s performance was excellent, with scores of 26 and 77. He showed great patience, defending well and leaving risky deliveries outside off-stump. This strong display has led to calls for Rahul to remain at the top of the order.
Rohit Sharma missed the first test due to the birth of his child, while Shubman Gill was absent because of a thumb injury. Rohit is expected to return for the next test in Adelaide. This creates a dilemma for the team management. Who will open with Jaiswal? Will KL Rahul, who performed well, continue? Or will Rohit, the regular opener, take his place? Shubman Gill, who is recovering from injury, also needs to fit into the batting order.
BGT 2024-25: Pujara’s Suggestion for the Lineup
Pujara believes that the opening pair of Rahul and Jaiswal should not be changed. He suggests that Rohit Sharma could move to the number three position. This would allow Rahul to continue opening the innings. According to Pujara, this would keep the team’s balance and reward Rahul for his good form.
Pujara also has an idea for Shubman Gill. He thinks Gill could bat at number five in the lineup. This would allow Gill to play without disrupting the current opening pair. However, if Rohit insists on opening the innings, Pujara suggests moving Rahul to number three. He believes Rahul should not be pushed lower down the order because of his skill with the new ball.
“If Rohit wants to open, then KL should bat at No. 3,” Pujara told ESPNcricinfo. He emphasized that Rahul’s game suits him well in the top order, and his position should not be changed too much.
BGT 2024-25: Rohit Sharma’s Recent Form
Rohit Sharma has not been in the best form lately. In his last five test matches, he has only scored one fifty. His average has dropped to just 13.3, raising concerns about his position in the batting lineup. Despite his recent struggles, Rohit remains a key player for India. The question is where he will bat when he returns for the next match.
BGT 2024-25: Possible Changes in the Team
With the return of Rohit and Gill, some players might be dropped from the team. Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel are expected to make way for the returning players. These changes will allow the Indian team to find the best balance for the remaining matches of the series.
In summary, the upcoming test in Adelaide will see some interesting decisions for the Indian team. Whether KL Rahul continues to open or moves down the order will depend on how the team management decides to handle Rohit Sharma’s return.
Also Read: BGT 2024-25: How Many Test Matches Has India Won In Adelaide?