Sunil Gavaskar wants Indian captain Rohit Sharma to open the innings in the 3rd Test against Australia

Legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar has urged Indian skipper Rohit Sharma to bat at his usual opening slot in the upcoming third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against Australia in Brisbane. The 37-year-old, who missed the series opener in Perth due to the birth of his second child, failed with the bat in Adelaide.

Jasprit Bumrah led the Indian team in Rohit's absence, with the visitors winning the Perth Test by 295 runs to go 1-0 up in the five-match series. Returning to the team for the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, Rohit batted at No. 5, scoring 3 and 6, respectively, in the two innings.

Meanwhile, the team management decided to continue with the opening duo of KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who added 201 runs for the first wicket in the Perth Test.

It was the first time since 2019 that Rohit Sharma was not batting as an opener in the Indian Test team. Expressing his thoughts about the ace batter's failure to score big upon joining the Test squad, Sunil Gavaskar insisted the Indian captain should return to his usual opening slot in Brisbane.

Gavaskar said on Sports Tak (via the Hindustan Times):

"He should return to his regular spot. We should remember why Rahul had opened. He did that because Rohit Sharma was not available for the first Test."

Stressing the importance of Rohit Sharma opening the innings and scoring quick runs for the team, Gavaskar also opined that KL Rahul should give up his place and bat down the order possibly at No. 5 or 6 in the third Test.

"Now I can understand why they kept KL Rahul as an opener in the second Test, he had a 200-plus partnership with Jaiswal. But now that he couldn't score this Test, I feel Rahul should go back to No. 5 or No.6 and Rohit Sharma should open. If Rohit scores quickly in the beginning, then he can score a big century also later," he added.

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Team India meekly surrender in Adelaide as Australia draw level

Opting to bat first upon winning the toss, the visitors could only post 180 runs in the first innings. Mitchell Starc was the pick of bowlers for Australia as he picked up six wickets. Powered by Travis Head's century and Marnus Labuschagne's half-century, the Aussies scored 337 runs to take a 157-run first innings lead.

Yet another batting collapse saw Team India manage 175 runs in their second innings, thereby setting the hosts a mere target of just 19 runs which they chased down in 3.2 overs without losing a wicket.

The series is now level at 1-1, with three more games remaining in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.