{ "id": "158101", "author": "26", "cnmid": "", "title": "Rahul To Open For India, Rohit Drops Down Order in 2nd Australia Test", "lang": "en", "series": "621", "cup_year": "2024", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "India Tour Of Australia 2024-25, 2nd Test", "subtype": null, "editor1": "

India Tour Of Australia 2024-25, 2nd Test: <\/strong>Rohit Sharma will bat down the order in the pink-ball second Test against Australia in Adelaide, with India's returning skipper Thursday saying KL Rahul had earned his place as an opener.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Rohit, who usually opens, missed their 295-run first Test victory in Perth last week for the birth of his second child.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

In his place, Rahul scored a patient 26 in the first innings then a solid 77 in a crucial 201-run opening stand with century-maker Yashasvi Jaiswal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"KL will open. The way he batted and his partnership with Jaiswal was instrumental in that first Test win," said Rohit ahead of the game starting on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"The way he has batted outside India, he deserves it. I will bat somewhere in the middle.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"It was a fairly simple decision. Personally, it wasn't easy, but for the team, it was an easy decision to make."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Rohit would not reveal India's starting XI, nor where exactly he will bat.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

But with regular number three Shubman Gill set to return from a thumb injury, he will probably come in at five, after Virat Kohli and before Rishabh Pant.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel appear likely to make way.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and allrounder Ravindra Jadeja were both overlooked for Perth and it remains unclear whether they will play.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

But Rohit said they remained integral to the five-Test series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Unfortunately I wasn't there to break the news to them that they won't be playing that first game," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"It's always hard to leave experienced players like them out.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"But I think the decision was made for what was best for the team at that particular time... and that is I think what we will throughout the series look to do.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"But I certainly see them playing a huge role in the rest of the series because what they bring to the table can never be written off. They are quality players."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Despite brimming with confidence after their victory in Perth, Rohit admitted that playing under lights with a pink ball at Adelaide Oval would be challenging.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Australia have won all seven of its day-night Tests at the venue including an eight-wicket win over India in 2020 when they were all out for 36 in their second innings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"You are so used to playing with a red ball and the pink ball certainly does a little bit more than the red ball," Rohit said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"At the same time we have been training here for the past three days and I certainly felt that the more time you spend playing the pink ball, it gets a little easier.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Also Read: <\/b> Highest tax paying cricketers<\/a><\/p>

"The pink ball will have its challenges under lights, during the day as well -- you just have to find your own way of dealing with it."<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Rohit-Sharma.jpg", "alt_img": "India Tour Of Australia 2024-25, 2nd Test: ", "alt_title": "Rohit Sharma", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "Rahul To Open For India, Rohit Drops Down Order in 2nd Australia Test On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "India Tour Of Australia 2024-25, 2nd Test: Rohit Sharma will bat down the order in the pink-ball second Test against Australia in Adelaide, with India's returning skipper Thursday saying KL Rahul had earned his place as an opener.", "seo_keywords": "India Tour Of Australia 2024-25, Rohit Sharma, Pink Ball Test", "tag": null, "tagging": "India Tour Of Australia 2024-25,Rohit Sharma,Pink Ball Test,", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "rahul-to-open-for-india-rohit-drops-down-order-in-2nd-australia-test", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "1", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "3501", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2024-12-05 16:37:02", "updated": "2024-12-05 16:37:02", "img_from": "Image Source: Google", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "India Tour Of Australia 2024-25, Rohit Sharma, Pink Ball Test", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "1", "posted_by": "1", "jio_date": "2024-12-05 16:37:02", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "1", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": "Select", "article_content_type": null, "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/rahul-to-open-for-india-rohit-drops-down-order-in-2nd-australia-test-158101" }