Harbhajan Singh backs Rohit Sharma to stay in middle order, expects two changes in bowling department for Brisbane Test

Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh wants India to stick with the same batting order against Australia as they did in Adelaide. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma batted at number six as KL Rahul returned with scores of 26 and 77 in the opening Test at Perth against Australia.

However, Rohit could not lead from the front as he managed scores of 3 and 6 in the pink-ball Test. The Turbanator doesn’t want Rohit to go back to his opening position as he isn’t in the best of forms. 

The Indian skipper managed only 42 runs in two Test matches against Bangladesh at an average of 10.50. The right-hander then scored 91 runs in three Test matches against New Zealand at an average of 15.17.

“I don’t think there will be any change in the batting order. I feel the batting order will be like this only. We discussed yesterday on the show that Rohit Sharma should probably come up the order. (Sunil) Gavaskar sahab also said that, but I feel the team management will not think like that,” Harbhajan Singh said on Star Sports show Follow the Blues.

“They will probably go with the same kind of batting order that worked for them in Perth. Rohit is also not in great form. So why would you send him (Rohit) up the order when he is not in form? I feel you should start with KL Rahul and Yashasvi (Jaiswal) only, and Rohit should bat in the middle order,” Harbhajan added.

On the other hand, Harbhajan feels Washington Sundar should replace Ravichandran Ashwin in the playing XI. Sundar returned with figures of 2-48 in the second innings at Perth and the former off-spinner feels Sundar is better with the bat than Ashwin.

“I feel we might see one change. Washington Sundar might come back and play in Brisbane. Although Ashwin didn’t bowl much and didn’t get much opportunity to do anything special, the way Washington Sundar’s first match went, he picked up two wickets and is slightly better with the bat, I feel he will be played,” he said.

Harbhajan wants lanky pacer Prasidh Krishna to replace Harshit Rana, who didn’t have a great outing in Adelaide as he went wicketless.

“I feel we will see one change in fast bowling. Prasidh Krishna can probably play in place of Harshit Rana. He has the height and can get the ball to bounce. I feel he can be quite handy on that fast wicket,” Harbhajan reasoned.

The third Test match between India and Australia will be played at the Gabba, Brisbane from December 14.