SA vs IND 2024: ‘I hated batting at number 3’: Rohit Sharma reveals why Shubman Gill isn’t opening in Test cricket

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has revealed why Shubman Gill isn’t opening the innings in Test cricket. Rohit said that Gill has himself picked to bat at one down in the red-ball version whereas he admitted he hated batting at number three.

Rohit also said that there isn’t much difference between opening the innings and batting at one down as it is a matter of only one wicket. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma returned with scores of 5 and 0 in the opening Test match whereas Gill managed scores of 2 and 26 against South Africa.

Gill has the experience of opening the innings in limited-overs format as well as the red-ball version but he batted at one down for Punjab in first-class cricket.

Meanwhile, Rohit has played 26 of his 53 Tests as an opener and has scored 2097 runs at that position while averaging 51.14 with seven centuries and a high score of 212. Rohit was at his absolute best as an opener in tough English conditions on the 2021 tour.

“To be honest, there is not much difference (between opening and number 3). It takes just one ball for a number 3 to go in. And sometimes when the opener gets injured in first innings, number 3 has to walk out and open the innings. So I don’t see much difference there. It’s a very individual thing,” Roht said on Tuesday in the pre-match press conference.

“Gill is smart and understands his batting pretty well. Obviously, he prefers that number. He has batted in the Ranji Trophy at that number around that position a fair bit. He has opened in limited overs, Test cricket as well but that was was his preference. He feels he can do well for us batting at that position. It is an individual thing as to how you think about certain positions where you bat,” he added.

Rohit has managed only 107 runs in four Test matches while batting at one down in Test cricket.

“I personally hated batting at number 3. So that’s my opinion. Either you open the batting or you wait a little to go down the order to bat at number 5 or 6. Since I started opening, from no 3 onwards till number 7, I don’t think it is the right position for anyone,” Rohit quipped.

South Africa won the toss in the second Test and elected to bat first. The home team is tottering at 25-4 after 12 overs, with Mohammed Siraj striking thrice.