As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 stands tied at 1-1, former chief selector of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Chetan Sharma, has voiced his support for Rohit Sharma to open the innings in the crucial Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Chetan Sharma highlighted the importance of Rohit’s role at the top of the batting order, particularly given India’s batting struggles this season. “I believe Rohit Sharma should open the innings. He is a skilled batsman who can take the pressure off the middle order by challenging the Australian bowlers early on,” Sharma remarked while speaking to a media outlet.
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The 2024-25 Test season has been challenging for Rohit Sharma. Starting with a series against Bangladesh, the Indian captain has struggled to find his form. His highest score this season is 52, and he has managed just 152 runs in seven Tests at a disappointing average of 11.69, with only one half-century in 13 innings.
In 13 Tests played this year, Rohit has accumulated 607 runs at an average of 26.39, including two centuries and two fifties across 24 innings. Despite these struggles, Sharma remains a vital component of India’s batting lineup as they prepare for the high-stakes clash at the MCG.
Discussing the performance of the Indian bowling attack, Chetan Sharma acknowledged their impressive display in the ongoing series but stressed the importance of collective effort.
“Our bowlers are doing really well, but they need to support Bumrah effectively. He cannot take five or six wickets in every match. The second line of bowlers—whether it’s Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, or Nitish Kumar Reddy—must also hunt in pairs,” Sharma explained.
He also pointed out the need for a stronger batting performance, stating, “We need to score more runs. While our batting lineup has depth, we haven’t met our expectations. With two matches left and favorable pitches, I expect us to perform well.”
The Australian squad has made strategic changes ahead of the fourth Test, addressing both injuries and form issues. Josh Hazlewood’s absence has opened the door for Sean Abbott to feature in the playing eleven. Additionally, Sam Konstas has replaced Nathan McSweeney in the squad as Australia looks to strengthen its lineup.
Also See: India tour of Australia Schedule
India Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.
Australia Squad: Pat Cummins (C), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Travis Head (VC), Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith (VC), Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.
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