India suffered a heavy 10-wicket defeat in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia at the Adelaide Oval. After their win in the first match, this loss exposed their batting vulnerabilities, especially in the pink-ball format.
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With just 19 runs needed in the fourth innings, Australia secured a comfortable win. This result has complicated India's hopes of making it to the World Test Championship final.
The team now faces the daunting task of winning all three remaining matches in the series. As they prepare for the third Test at The Gabba in Brisbane, one key question arises: Should captain Rohit Sharma open the innings to strengthen India’s top order?
How has Rohit Sharma performed as an opener in Tests?
Rohit Sharma has excelled in the role of an opener in Test cricket. Out of 64 innings, he has scored 2,685 runs at an average of 44.02 and a strike rate of 59.05.
This includes nine centuries and eight half-centuries, with a highest score of 212. His consistent performances at the top highlight his ability to anchor innings and build partnerships.
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How has Rohit Sharma performed in other batting positions in Tests?
Rohit’s record in other batting positions has been mixed. Here is a table summarizing his batting stats by position in Tests:
| Batting Position | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | High Score | 100s/50s | Not Outs | Ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opener | 64 | 2,685 | 44.02 | 59.05 | 212 | 9/8 | 3 | 1 |
| No. 3 | 5 | 107 | 21.40 | 41.63 | 53 | 0/1 | 0 | 1 |
| No. 4 | 1 | 4 | 4.00 | 25.00 | 4 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 5 | 16 | 437 | 29.13 | 48.55 | 79 | 0/3 | 1 | 1 |
| No. 6 | 27 | 1,046 | 49.80 | 59.90 | 177 | 3/6 | 6 | 2 |
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Should Rohit Sharma open in Brisbane Test?
Rohit Sharma’s success as an opener stems from his ability to adapt and dominate new-ball bowlers. His knack for setting the tone early in an innings makes him an asset at the top.
His century on Test debut against the West Indies in 2013 at Eden Gardens and his performances in 2019 underscore his adaptability across formats and conditions. His statistics strongly favor him opening the innings in the Brisbane Test.
His consistency and ability to lead from the front make him a reliable choice to counter Australia’s fiery pace attack. Whether India can bounce back in the series might depend on Rohit’s performance at the top.
