Ricky Ponting has opened on Rohit Sharma’s batting position ahead of the third Test against Australia. Rohit missed the opening game due to the birth of his second child and demoted himself in the batting order to allow KL Rahul to continue as an opener. Ponting also spoke about Rohit’s form, which has become a concern for the team management. The 38-year-old scored 9 runs across two innings in the pink-ball Test, and Australia registered a 10-wicket win.
Sharma has been passing through a rough patch and his place in the team is being questioned by critics.
“I feel Rohit should have opened the innings. I know KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal were magnificent and added 201 runs for the opening wicket bit Rohit is your captain and one of the most experienced guys in the team,” Ricky Ponting said on ICC review.
“You want him to bat im the top order, which is his normal role. That is something they might think about in the third Test. They might ask him to open the innings,” he added.
In his last 12 innings, Rohit has scored only 142 runs at an average of 11.83. Ponting said that the Indian captain is aware of his weaknesses.
“You know about your form. Are you aware of whether you are scoring runs or not or whether you are in form or not? You don’t need someone else to tell you about your performance.
“Rohit was on a long break before the second Test and the wicket in Adelaide was not easy to bat. Most batters struggled on that wicket.”
Ponting shed light on Rohit’s ideal batting position. “I don’t know whether this is a worry or concern. If I was India and him, I would try to make things comfortable.
“Rohit has opened for long time and he should return to his preferred position. I would try to find a new batting slot for KL Rahul,” he concluded.
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