Rohit Sharma will turn up for the two-day, pink-ball, warm-up game in Canberra, and then at the Adelaide Test. He is the skipper and one of India’s best Test-match batters, and it is only natural that he will take over the reins from Jasprit Bumrah. But that’s where it becomes complicated with Indian fans. If India doesn’t square up well in Adelaide, Rohit will be abused and all hell will break lose. All of a sudden, comparisons with Bumrah will start, and questions will be asked as to why Rohit was allowed to take back the captaincy.
This is where we lack perspective. Sport isn’t run by social-media madness. Rohit is the designated captain and it is only fair he takes over. The win in Perth doesn’t change anything. In fact, it was his team that won. Bumrah is the deputy, and very rightly said so in the press conference. This is much like the 2020-21 situation. Yes, Ajinkya Rahane led the team brilliantly, but he did so in Virat Kohli’s absence. Kohli was still the captain, and took over in the very next series against England at home.
Instead of messing around with Rohit, what we should focus on is how India can do better in the pink-ball Test. India haven’t played any pink-ball cricket for three years, while for Australia, it is an annual affair. Given that experience, they will surely go into the Test as favourites despite the Perth reversal. The Australian bowlers will want to make amends and it could well be their last chance. If they fail in Adelaide, India will know the series is within their grasp.
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So the pressure is well and truly on Australia, and that’s what Indian fans should focus on while leaving Rohit alone. Bumrah has dented Australia’s confidence and inflicted serious scarring. He will now have a mental edge against some of the batters, and that’s what Rohit and India should use in Adelaide. For Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, they haven’t won a series against India in a decade, and Adelaide could well be their last opportunity.
For Rohit, it is certainly an important Test match. A proud performer, he would want to lead from the front and make it count. Rohit will know that an unlikely win in Adelaide could just set the series up lead to a miracle result for Indian cricket. He will also have to decide his position in the batting order. Will he go down to the middle order now that KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal have batted extremely well in Perth? Or will he want to open the batting, with Rahul going down to No. 6? Either way, questions will be asked and I am sure the management is prepared for it.
Personally, I feel Rohit could well decide to bat in the middle order and slot Shubman Gill at No. 3 in place of Devdutt Padikkal. Rohit would replace Dhruv Jurel in Adelaide. The opening pair had a telling impact in Perth, and from a team standpoint, it might make better sense to continue with Rahul and Jaiswal at the top while Rohit takes care of the second new ball by batting at No. 6.
Either way, Rohit has a good 10 days in hand, which includes the two-day game in Canberra. So, plenty of time for the captain to ponder and take a reasoned decision, which could best help his team.
Also Read: How a Durga Puja gave India’s Test team its Bumrah X-factor