Rahane likely to open with me: Rohit Sharma
You never know what’s coming out of their hand to be honest. That’s what they bring to the table and that’s what the captain wants
On two wrist spinners in the squad
CHENNAI: Indian cricket team’s vice-captain Rohit Sharma made it clear Ajinkya Rahane will be his opening partner and KL Rahul will continue to bat at No 4 in the first ODI against Australia here on Sunday.
Shikhar Dhawan has pulled out of the first three ODIs due to his wife’s illness, having missed the last
ODI and only T20 in
Sri Lanka as his mother was unwell.
Test opener KL
Rahul didn’t open the batting in the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka, where he was slotted at No 4 as part of the experiment heading into the 2019 World Cup. But it proved disastrous as he scored 4, 17 and 4. But the management’s thinking is not clouded by his failure. “Before the start of Sri Lanka tour, the captain said he is looking at KL as a No 4 batsman. Ajinkya has opened in the West Indies. I guess that could be the option,” Rohit said before training at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday. “Having said that, when you have this kind of versatility in your team, it gives captain and coach a little bit of relief that these guys can take up any position they are offered. You will have to play according to the team dynamics, whatever the team requires,” he said. “That’s how I became an opener because the team wanted me to open at that point. I’m sure no batsman will come in thinking he is a specialist opener and needs to open. We are here thinking wherever the team wants us to play we should do the job.”
PULLOUT SETBACK
Rohit accepted Shikhar Dhawan’s pullout was a blow given the form he was in. “The achievement we have had in the last few series, he has had a big role to play. Right from Champions Trophy till the last tour in Sri Lanka, he has had impactful performances for the team. Yes, his absence will be felt,” he said.
“But, we have got guys who can replace him. Ajinkya is one of them. He had a great series in the West Indies where he was Manof-the-Series. We’ve got good bench strength. That’s why we have the (rotation) policy.”
Rohit Sharma said partners don’t dictate how India set the ball rolling. “The partner doesn’t matter, to be honest. It’s what the condition has to offer, what sort of pitch you are playing in. At the end of the day you have to give your team a good start. If I see someone struggling at the other end, I will have to take up the role, and if they see I’m struggling, they’ll take up that role,” he said.