Mumbai: India captain Rohit Sharma has rejoined the team in Australia after missing the first Test to be with his family for the birth of his second child.
However, what would otherwise have been a straight swap in the XI has become a hot topic of discussion after KL Rahul’s returns in the Perth Test.
Filling in for Rohit at the top of the order, Rahul stood out as one of the few batters to show composure during India’s first-innings collapse for 150. He then built on that with a fluent 77 in the second innings, stitching a game-changing 201-run partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal to put the game well beyond Australia.
Cheteshwar Pujara has voiced his support for KL Rahul to retain his place at the top of the order, even suggesting that Rohit Sharma could move down to No.3 to accommodate him.
"I think, for some reason, if we can carry on with the same batting order, like KL and Yashasvi to open, Rohit could come in at three, and Shubman could come in at five," Pujara said speaking to ESPNcricinfo.
"If Rohit wants to open, KL should bat at No. 3. Nothing later than that. I think he has to bat top of the order, because it suits his game really well. I hope we don't tinker around with that," he said.
Another area of debate in the XI revolves around the all-rounders' slot. In the first Test, India opted to debut Nitish Reddy and selected Washington Sundar, leaving seasoned campaigners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja on the sidelines.
Both Reddy and Sundar delivered strong performances in the opening Test, making a case for their continued involvement in the series.
Reddy contributed a crucial 41 in the first innings, then followed it up with an aggressive 38 not out in the second. With the ball, he bowled 7 overs, claiming his maiden Test wicket.
Sundar also played a steady hand, scoring 29 in the second innings, and proved his worth with the ball, taking two key wickets.
Pujara endorsed the duo to retain their places in the team, recommending no changes to the bowling attack from the first match.
"He (Washington) didn't look really good when he started his bowling, but eventually he got a couple of wickets, he varied his pace, so Washy should be our spinner," Pujara added. "Because he can bat well. The reason he was chosen in this squad is because he can bat. It will be important in the second Test match that, in case we lose a few wickets early, if the lower-middle order needs to contribute, Washington can do that role."
"This bowling attack has given us success. Jasprit Bumrah looked really good. Mohammed Siraj was very good. And then it was supported by Harshit. He bowled really well, you have to accept that. He was playing his first game for India, still he ended up pitching the ball up," he said.
"So I think we should carry on with the same bowling attack. And Nitish also, he had a bit of a bowl.
I felt that those four seamers are proper options and along with that, Washington Sundar."
To acclimatise to the pink ball, India will play a two-day warm-up match against the Australia Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra, starting November 30, ahead of the second Test in Adelaide on December 6.
