India vs Australia: Irfan Pathan’s Bold Call: Rohit and Gill in Middle Order, KL-Yashasvi to Lead India’s Pink-Ball Charge
As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy heads to the second Test in Adelaide, Irfan Pathan suggested changes in India’s XI, proposing Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in the middle order, with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal opening after their 201-run partnership in Perth. Pathan emphasized tackling twilight challenges in pink-ball Tests to secure India’s advantage in the game.
With the India vs Australia Test series underway, the focus shifts to the second Test at the Adelaide Oval, a pink-ball day-night match. After a commanding 295-run victory in the Perth opener, India is poised for changes with captain Rohit Sharma and opener Shubman Gill set to return. Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan suggested a reshuffle, advocating Rohit and Gill to bolster the middle order, while KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal retain their opening slots.
Rahul and Jaiswal impressed in Perth, scoring 77 and 161 runs, respectively, forming a solid opening partnership. Pathan emphasized the importance of maintaining this momentum, particularly under the challenging twilight phase in pink-ball Tests, when bowlers thrive. He said:
I think in the Test Match, Rohit Sharma will be back. He is the captain, so he will have a straight swap with Devdutt Padikkal. And Shubman Gill should also be in the squad, instead of Dhruv Jurel. There were a lot of questions on the batting position of KL Rahul. He should open with Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rohit Sharma has batted in different numbers. So he will be able to adjust very well. Since it was a very good opening, you don’t want to change it, especially after Perth’s win.
India’s potential playing XI adjustments include direct swaps for Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel to accommodate Rohit and Gill. Pathan highlighted the need to adapt during twilight hours to minimize wickets falling in clusters, critical for securing victory in this high-stakes encounter.
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