In the aftermath of India's crushing 10-wicket defeat to Australia in the second Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, there has been a growing discussion regarding India's batting lineup, particularly the position of Indian captain Rohit Sharma. India's defeat allowed Australia to level the five-match series 1-1, with both teams now looking to assert dominance in the upcoming encounters.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who usually opens the batting for India, came to bat down the order in the second Test, allowing KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal to open the batting for the team.
Pujara, a seasoned middle-order batsman and one of the key figures in India's recent success, has asserted that Rohit Sharma should sacrifice opening spot for KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal for the team's future. Pujara also noted that Rohit Sharma should change his technique.
"He has not scored a lot of runs against New Zealand and he did not start well in Australia, so there is a bit of pressure on him to perform. But someone like him who knows his game will just have to be more positive, and work a bit more on his footwork. If he has a slightly bigger stride, it will help him," Cheteshwar Pujara said on ESPNcricinfo.
"The stump line has been troubling him a lot. He has been getting out bowled and LBW, which is a bit of concern for him. That's the line he will have to work more in the nets, because in the balls outside off stump, he is looking more comfortable. I think he should continue to bat at No.6. We are looking at India's future, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. They batted really well in the 1st Test match, Shubman also is likely to bat at No.3. We should think about the long term and that's why I think that Rohit should continue to bat at No.6," he further added.
The third Test between India and Australia will begin on December 14 at The Gabba in Brisbane.