Former spinner Harbhajan Singh opined that India’s longer formats’ captain Rohit Sharma should continue to bat in the middle-order in the upcoming third Test against Australia, scheduled to run from December 14 to 18 in Brisbane.
During an interview with an Indian media outlet, Singh predicted that despite a humiliating 10-wicket defeat in the second Test, the touring side is likely to stick with the same batting order for the third fixture.
Notably, Rohit, who missed the opening Test in Perth due to the birth of his second child, relocated himself to bat at number six in a bid to continue with the opening pair of KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, which played a pivotal role in India’s 295-run victory.
The decision, however, did not turn out beneficial for the touring side as Rohit only managed to score nine runs across two innings of the second Test.
"I don't think there will be any change in the batting order. I feel the batting order will be like this only. We discussed yesterday on the show that Rohit Sharma should probably come up the order. (Sunil) Gavaskar sahab also said that, but I feel the team management will not think like that," he said.
"They will probably go with the same kind of batting order that worked for them in Perth. Rohit is also not in great form. So why would you send him (Rohit) up the order when he is not in form? I feel you should start with KL Rahul and Yashasvi (Jaiswal) only, and Rohit should bat in the middle order," Harbhajan added.
Singh, however, predicted that India may make a few changes to their lineup, with Washington Sundar and Prasidh Krishna replacing Ravichandran Ashwin and Harshit Rana, respectively.
"I feel we might see one change. Washington Sundar might come back and play in Brisbane. Although Ashwin didn't bowl much and didn't get much opportunity to do anything special, the way Washington Sundar's first match went, he picked up two wickets and is slightly better with the bat, I feel he will be played," he said.
"I feel we will see one change in fast bowling. Prasidh Krishna can probably play in place of Harshit Rana. He has the height and can get the ball to bounce. I feel he can be quite handy on that fast wicket," Harbhajan reasoned.
- Harbhajan Singh
- Rohit Sharma
