“That is a top three to take to England” - Former Australia pacer suggests India’s batting order for BGT 2024-25 5th Test

Former Australia bowler Damien Fleming doesn’t find a place for reigning India skipper Rohit Sharma in the playing XI. Fleming shared how the 37-year-old has failed to deliver in the middle order and as an opener in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Down Under. He believes the visitors should recall Shubman Gill for the No. 3 role and move KL Rahul back to his opening role alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal.

The remarks came after Sharma managed just 31 runs in five innings at an average of 6.2. He has managed 164 runs in his last 15 Test innings at an average of 10.93, including a fifty. As a skipper, he has lost five out of six Tests, including a 0-3 loss to New Zealand at home.

The ex-Aussie pacer added that speedster Jasprit Bumrah remains the only positive for the Men in Blue with the ball, while Nitish Kumar Reddy and Yashasvi Jaiswal have stepped up in the batting unit. He wrote in his column for ‘The Roar’:

“I’d put Gill back in at No. 3 and move KL Rahul back to opening. With Jaiswal, that is a top three to take to England. Not a lot’s gone their way besides Jasprit Bumrah bowling out of his skin and a couple of the younger batters stepping up in Yashasvi Jaswal and Nitish Kumar Reddy."

"The word on the street is that Rohit is going to be dropped! He hasn’t looked like getting runs whatsoever whether batting in the middle order or opening,” he added.

“Prasidh Krishna should be called in to replace him” – Australia pacer on India’s forced bowling change

Damien Fleming, meanwhile, wants India to replace the injured Akash Deep with Prasidh Krishna for the fifth BGT Test. He also backed Jasprit Bumrah to lead the side again after the series opener in Perth, where the visitors won by a mammoth 295 runs. He wrote in the same column:

“Akash Deep is out with a back issue so fellow quick Prasidh Krishna should be called in to replace him. Bumrah, back as captain like the first Test, will be a constant threat.”

Akash Deep has been ruled out of the fifth match due to a stiff back. Krishna is there as a backup bowler. The 28-year-old had picked up 10 wickets in the two unofficial Tests between India A and Australia A in October and November.