Former South African cricketer Herschel Gibbs has shared a tactical suggestion for Team India ahead of the crucial Boxing Day Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia starting on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma is more suited to the top order and could make a significant impact by returning to his preferred role as opener in the all-important Test against the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, Herschel Gibbs believes. Australia.
Herschel Gibbs calls for Rohit Sharma to return to his preferred position
Emphasizing the importance of the opener in the must-win Boxing Day Test for India, Gibbs noted that Rohit has built his reputation and scored most of his runs in Test cricket as a key.
With the five-match Test series poised at 1-1, the Proteas star suggested Rohit could reclaim the top order to bolster India’s batting line-up for the crucial fourth Test.
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InsideSport quoted Herschel Gibbs as saying, “Well, look, I think he’s a more comfortable opener than batting in the middle order. I think if you had to ask him that question, to be honest, Rohit would say yes, he would like to open up. The opening is a very important part, especially in must-win games and in a series, you know, this big. You know, he made his runs as soon as he opened them. I would like to request to change it and reopen it.”
Hershel Gibbs hails KL Rahul but suggests an urgent change to revive India’s batting
However, Gibbs hailed KL Rahul’s performance in the ongoing Test series as a key and even pointed out that the Karnataka batsman looked more comfortable than most batsmen against Australia, but still feels he should give way to the experienced opener.
Furthermore, the former South African batsman has suggested a strategic shuffle in India’s top order, suggesting a swapping of batting positions between Rohit and another player, given the preference of KL Rahul, given his batting performance so far in the BGT 2024-25.
For this Test series-deciding encounter, Herschel Gibbs has advised India to open with the dynamic duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma as he believes their partnership can provide the tourists with the stability and pace needed to secure a lead in BGT 2024-25.
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India should open with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharm at the MCG: Herschelle Gibbs
All eyes will be on India’s batting order as the Boxing Day Test begins on December 26 at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and Gibbs believes Rohit will be more comfortable opening and that will be the case. Key for India vs Australia.
Gibbs said, “I think KL Rahul, you know, he’s really great; he was really good and looked a lot more comfortable than the other batsmen in this series so far. So I think you should ask him where KL wants to fight and exchange. I think for such an important Test match, India should open with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma.”
Notably, Rohit Sharma is struggling for runs in the ongoing Test series. He missed the Perth Test due to the birth of his second child and then returned to bat at No.6, managing just 19 runs in three innings so far in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
