NEW DELHI: Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh feels skipper Rohit Sharma will bat in the top-order in the second day-night Test against Australia that starts from December 6 in Adelaide.
Harbhajan sees Rohit either opening or playing at number three, dismissing the idea of 37-year-old coming lower down the order in the pink-ball game.
Rohit missed the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth where KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal pulled off and incredible 201-run opening partnership in the second innings. Riding on their impressive stand, India convincingly won the match by 295 runs.
In the recently concluded warm-up game ahead of the day-night Test, Rohit came in at No.4 against Australia Prime Minister’s XI that left everyone guessing about Rohit’s batting slot for the second Test.
“I don’t see Rohit coming in at number five or six. Either Rohit will open with Yashasvi Jaiswal, with KL Rahul coming in at number three, or he will bat no later than number three,” Harbhajan told PTI.
“Number six for Rohit wouldn’t be in best interest of the team. Your top four in batting order should be the four pillars and someone like Rohit at the top would only add greater fillip.”
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Harbhajan also commented on the selection of Washington Sundar over Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the first Test. He considered it a significant decision.
“Washington had showed during the New Zealand series that he is ready to take over the mantle from Ashwin in coming days,” the ‘Turbanator’ said.
Addressing Ashwin’s age as a potential factor, Harbhajan offered his perspective.
“I don’t think 38 is old. He is not a 58- year-old. But yes, after so many years, the shoulders do experience fatigue and wear and tear, so the zip can just be a bit less.”
On the drama surrounding the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, Harbhajan urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to accept the ‘Hybrid Model’ which proposes that India play its matches in Dubai.
“Ask all players, they would say they are ready to play in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. In any case, we don’t see too many Indo-Pak games as such, and Pakistan should keep their ego aside and agree to the ‘Hybrid Model’.
“There is a security concern (for India) and I have been saying this since 2022,” he added.
