Former pacer Dodda Ganesh has strongly cautioned the Indian team management against the idea of captain Rohit Sharma opening the batting in the crucial third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at the Gabba, labelling it a risky proposition given Rohit’s current form and the challenging conditions in Brisbane. Ganesh’s warning comes amid growing debate over India’s batting order following their struggles in the first two Tests of the series. India were bowled out for 150 in their first innings of the opening Test at Perth and then for 180 in Adelaide. Though they recovered to win the Perth Test by 295 runs thanks to centuries by Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli, there were not such heroics in Adelaide and the visitors slumped to an embarrassing 10-wicket defeat within three days.

With there being some talk going about Rohit Sharma, who missed the first Test and in the middle in the second to allow K.L Rahul to open the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal in Adelaide, returning to the opening role, Ganesh, took to social media to express his concerns.

Rohit Sharma is already short of confidence and runs. Experts urging him to open at Gabba, is foolhardy to say the least. The series is not being played in the sub-continent where he can throw his bat and get some runs. It will be lamb to the slaughter house if he opens #AUSvIND

— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) December 9, 2024

“Rohit Sharma is already short of confidence and runs. Experts urging him to open at the Gabba is foolhardy, to say the least. The series is not being played in the sub-continent where he can throw his bat and get some runs. It will be a lamb to the slaughterhouse if he opens,” Ganesh posted on X.

The former pacer highlighted that Rohit’s current lack of confidence, coupled with the unique demands of Australian conditions, could expose the Indian captain to further struggles.

Rohit Sharma’s record in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries has been a talking point throughout his career. In 46 innings across these challenging conditions, Rohit averages under 30, a stark contrast to his dominance in the sub-continent.

While the Hitman has found success as an opener in limited instances, his average of 37.8 in SENA countries as an opener is inflated by his exceptional performances during the 2021 series in England. His career-defining knock of 127 at The Oval remains a standout moment, built on technical adjustments to counter swing and seam.

However, the Gabba presents a vastly different challenge. The bounce and pace of the Brisbane pitch, combined with a world-class Australian attack led by Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, demand precise footwork, sound judgment, and the ability to handle steep bounce. Even a minor misstep in technique can lead to trouble against such formidable opposition.

Rohit’s recent form has only added to the uncertainty. The Indian skipper missed the first Test on paternity leave and managed scores of just 3 and 6 in the pink-ball Test on his return. His tentative outings at No. 5 raised questions about his confidence, further complicating the suggestion to send him back to his original spot at the top of the order.

Former India cricketer wants Rohit Sharma to bat in the middle when he returns to the playing XI in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. India captain Rohit is not part of the team for the 1st Test in Perth, having stayed back in Mumbai for the birth of his second child. Rohit and his wife Ritika Sajdeh were blessed with a boy earlier this month, and the star batter is expected to join his teammates in Perth on Sunday. In Rohit’s absence at the top of the order, veteran batter KL Rahul has made a strong case for himself with an unbeaten 62 in the second innings in Perth.

He also looked strong during India’s horrow show with the bat in the first innings, scoring a composed 26 before being ruled out in controversial manner. Ganesh warned the Indian team management against re-shuffing Rahul’s batting order, who was promoted up the order to fill in for Rohit.

“Just have KL Rahul opening throughout the tour. For heavens sake don’t shuffle his spot again. He’s the best bet to handle the conditions with the new ball. Rohit can bat in the middle order,” Ganesh wrote in a post on X.

Ganesh suggested the management to try Rohit in the middle order for the remainder of the series, mainly because of Rahul’s ability to tackle the new ball.

“This opening partnership has to stay and Rohit will have to bat in the middle order. Hopefully, common sense prevails #AUSvIND #BorderGavaskarTrophy,” he wrote in another post.

This opening partnership has to stay and Rohit will have to bat in the middle order. Hopefully, common sense prevails #AUSvIND #BorderGavaskarTrophy https://t.co/aej6WARKXl

— Dodda Ganesh (@doddaganesha) November 23, 2024

As per reports, Rohit will join the team in Perth on Day 3 of the 1st Test. The report added that Rohit will be available for the two-day pink-ball tour game from November 30 in Canberra, ahead of the day-night Test in Adelaide.

Rohit’s recent numbers are underwhelming. Across five Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand, he scored 133 runs in 10 innings, averaging only 13.30, with a best score of 52. His scores in the home season were: 6, 5, 23, 8, 2, 52, 0, 8, 18, and 11.

(With ANI Inputs)

The anticipation is building up for the Border Gavaskar Trophy. At stake for India is pride, and a place in the World Test Championship final. After the setback at home in the Test series against New Zealand, the equation for India to qualify for the WTC final is simple – win four Tests against Australia and get an automatic spot in the title clash without depending on other teams. If that does not happen, India will have to hope for other teams’ results go their way in order to enter the WTC final. 

While Indian cricket team management and BCCI went mostly with proven performers for the Border Gavaskar Trophy, there were a couple of surprise in the form of Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana – who are yet to play Tests for India. 

Former India pacer Dodda Ganesh is, however, not impressed with the move.  

“Either pick a genuine bowler, or go with a genuine batter if you feel the batting needs to be bolstered. This fast tracking of Nitish Reddy for tests serves no purpose. He is still undercooked to be playing the longer format #BorderGavaskarTrophy,” Dodda Ganesh wrote on X. 

Either pick a genuine bowler, or go with a genuine batter if you feel the batting needs to be bolstered. This fast tracking of Nitish Reddy for tests serves no purpose. He is still undercooked to be playing the longer format #BorderGavaskarTrophy

— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) November 18, 2024

The much anticipated Border-Gavaskar series between India and Australia will begin on November 22, with the first Test at Perth.

The second Test, scheduled for December 6 to 10 at Adelaide Oval, will feature the exciting day-night format under the stadium’s lights. After that, fans will turn their attention to The Gabba in Brisbane for the third Test, which will be held from December 14 to 18.

The customary Boxing Day Test, set for December 26 to 30 at Melbourne’s storied Melbourne Cricket Ground, will bring the series to its penultimate stage.

The fifth and final Test, to take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7, will serve as the series climax, promising a dramatic conclusion to an exciting contest.

India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (Wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Prasidh Krishna, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Rishabh Pant (Wk), KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar.

With ANI inputs 

Dodda Ganesh with the officials of Kenya cricket© X (Twitter)

Shardul Thakur in action for Indian cricket team© X (formerly Twitter)