Adelaide Test: Rohit Sharma to Bat in the Middle Order, KL Rahul to Open

India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, has confirmed that he will bat in the middle order, while KL Rahul will continue as the opener in the second Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval, starting on Friday.

Rohit, who missed the first Test in Perth due to the birth of his second child, has rejoined the team for the day-night Test. Despite talks about Rahul possibly moving down the order after his impressive 77 runs in Perth, Rohit put the rumors to rest during a pre-match press conference.

“KL will open, and I will play in the middle order. It’s not an easy change for me, but it’s best for the team,” Rohit said.

India enters the second match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with confidence after a 295-run win in Perth. The team bounced back strongly despite being dismissed for 150 in their first innings. The day-night Test in Adelaide, played with a pink ball, is expected to be challenging, especially under lights when the ball is likely to swing more.

Explaining the decision to keep Rahul as an opener, Rohit said, “The opening pair did well in the first Test, and we don’t want to change that. However, we might try different options in the future.”

Rohit acknowledged the difficulty of adjusting to a middle-order role but emphasized that it was the right choice for the team.

The captain also faces personal pressure, having only one half-century in his last ten Test innings. With tricky evening conditions in Adelaide, India will need a strong performance to maintain their momentum in the series.

The second Test begins on December 6, with both teams eager to earn vital points in the World Test Championship standings.