3 big statements from Rohit Sharma’s press conference before 2nd BGT 2024-25 Test

Senior batter Rohit Sharma is back to leading Team India in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The day-night Test will get underway on Friday, December 6, at the Adelaide Oval.

Rohit missed the first Test due to the birth of his second child. He chose to stay with his wife during that time and joined the Indian contingent midway through the first Test in Perth, which the visitors won by 295 runs.

In his first press conference of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Down Under, Rohit made huge revelations and cleared the air surrounding Team India's playing XI for the pink-ball fixture.

On that note, let's take a look at three big statements from Rohit Sharma's press conference on the eve of the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test.

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#1 "He probably deserves that place at this point in time" - Rohit Sharma seals openers debate

KL Rahul partnered with Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top of the order for India in the opening Test in Perth in the absence of incumbent Rohit Sharma. The Karnataka cricketer made decent returns, chipping in with scores of 26 and 77 across two innings.

With Rohit back in the mix, there were discussions about India's possible opening combination for the day-night fixture. However, the Indian skipper has settled all concerns, saying that the visiting team will continue the similar opening combination.

“KL will open (in Adelaide)," Rohit told reporters via the ICC. "The way he batted and his partnership with Jaiswal was instrumental in that first test win. The way he has batted outside India, he deserves it. I will bat somewhere in the middle. It was a fairly simple decision. Personally, it wasn’t easy but for the team, it was an easy decision to make."

Rohit added that considering Rahul's overseas form the latter deserves a spot in the playing XI. The right-hander averages 31.71 in away Tests and has seven centuries and six fifties to his name.

"I was at home with my newborn in my arms, and I was watching how KL batted," he continued. "It was brilliant to watch. I felt that there's no need to change that now. Maybe in the future, things will be different. I don't know. Based on what has happened and what KL Rahul has shown outside of India, he probably deserves that place at this point in time. It is something that has brought us success in the first Test.”

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#2 "These two will play a role in the rest of the series" - Rohit on spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja

Many eyeballs were raised when Washington Sundar was included in India's playing XI for the first Test ahead of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

Sundar had a very limited role to play with the ball in the first innings but bounced back to pick up two wickets in the second essay. He also chipped in with a 94-ball 29 in the second essay.

There have been speculations over Ashwin and Jadeja's inclusion in the second Test. Rohit asserted that the senior spin duo will play some role to play in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

“I wasn’t there personally to break the news to Ashwin and Jadeja that they won’t be playing at Perth. The management went with the best team they thought that suited that pitch. These two will play a role in the rest of the series. They have been massive to India’s record in the past. We shall look at the pitches and decide,” Rohit said.

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#3 "I am completely out of all those external things that happen" - Rohit Sharma on rifts in Australian dressing room

Josh Hazlewood's comments during the first Test in Perth have been the major talking point leading to the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test. Chasing a mammoth 534 and placed at 15/3 heading to Day 4, Hazlewood was asked about the team's game plan for the run-chase.

The right-arm pacer responded, saying that the questions should be posed to the batters.

"You probably have to ask one of the batters that question... I’m probably looking mostly towards the next Test," Hazlewood told reporters via India Today.

When asked, Rohit Sharma replied by saying that he is not aware of the external things. Instead, he spoke about the excellent environment in the Indian dressing room.

"I have no idea about all this. I am completely out of all those external things that happen. I don’t know what to say. It’s happening. I can’t tell what’s happening in their dressing room. I seriously have no idea about it. I don’t know what I can say about it. But clearly, there’s a superb environment here, which we want to enjoy," he said via India Today.