'Will we again go by stature' - Sanjay Manjrekar opines continuing with Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul as openers

Rohit Sharma is back with the Indian team after staying away for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth. Sharma welcomed his second child along with his wife and had cited the same reason for missing the Perth Test. In his absence, KL Rahul opened the innings for India along with Yashasvi Jaiswal and the duo stitched a partnership for 201 in the second innings. 

Now that the India captain is back, the management is dealing with a conundrum of whether to stick with the opening combination or stack Rohit up in his usual spot. In this regard, former India cricketer and now commentator, Sanjay Manjrekar has advised the team to go with the Rahul-Jaiswal combination and opined that the stature of Rohit should not hinder the working model.

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“Will we again go by stature and the incumbent senior iconic player? I think they will go by common sense and the current reality. Rohit Sharma himself would volunteer as captain. So, I think to make the most of what you’ve already gained from that second innings,” said Manjrekar as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

No. 3 would actually ensure more success from Shubman Gill: Manjrekar 

If the Indian team decides to stick with the opening combination from the first Test, Rohit might not pick the third spot as Shubman Gill has become the set batter for the position. With Virat Kohli maintaining the number four spot for aeons now, the India opener might have to do with the number five spot which in Manjrekar’s sense makes no difference. 

“I think Gill considering his first Test match of the series, that number (No. 3) would actually ensure more success from Shubman Gill, a contribution. And Rohit Sharma as well it won’t be a massive difference from opening the innings and batting at No. 5," he continued.

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“So, No.3 would be a nice compromise. So, I think why we're on this topic maybe Indian cricket also must reach a stage where they don’t give too much importance to batting positions like you have in T20 cricket that keeps swapping. So, whatever makes cricketing sense, and that always is something that maybe the Indian team management might think about,” Manjrekar concluded.