Image: Rohit Sharma's poor performance has raised concerns for the visitors / © ESPN Cricinfo
Rohit stayed in Mumbai for the birth of his second child and joined the Indian team during the first Test in Perth. He played his first game in the warm-up match against Australia’s Prime Minister’s XI where he battled at No.4. This match marked his return to cricket after joining the squad midway through the series.
Devang Gandhi suggested that Rohit Sharma should bat in the middle order for the Adelaide Test. He recommended the No.6 position since Rishabh Pant has been performing well at No.5. Gandhi also mentioned that Rohit would find it easy to adapt to batting in the middle order, making the change a practical option. He said:
In fact, I feel Rohit should come in at No. 6, because Rishabh Pant, too, has shaped up very well at 5… The left-right combo, too, can be maintained that way. It becomes difficult if a middle-order batter tries to become an opener in the latter stages of his career. But it will not be difficult for an opener to go in the middle-order, especially for Rohit, who started as a No. 6 batter for India.
In the pink-ball practice game at Manuka Oval, Canberra, on Sunday, December 1, Rohit Sharma managed only three runs from 11 balls. After a shaky start, he got off the mark on his eighth delivery but was soon dismissed. Sharma edged a ball outside the off stump and the first slip comfortably took the catch.