"This batting musical chairs will cost us dearly" - Fans puzzled at reports of Rohit Sharma returning as opener for BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Team India skipper Rohit Sharma could open the batting in the side's upcoming Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 against Australia. However, fans are far from pleased with the reports of a batting shuffle. The much-awaited match kicks off in Melbourne on Thursday, December 26.

Sharma missed the BGT 2024-25 opener in Perth because of his paternity leave. Senior batter KL Rahul batted at the top of the order alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in Rohit's absence.

Rahul and Jaiswal formed a 201-run partnership in the contest, the highest-ever by an Indian pair in Australia in Tests. As a result, Sharma gave up his opening spot and batted at No. 6 in the second and third Tests.

However, according to a report by RevSportz journalist Rohit Juglan, Sharma is likely to open in the Boxing Day Test, with Rahul dropping to No. 3. The report puzzled several fans, many of whom took to social media to react to the development.

Here are some of the top reactions on X:

Many Indian supporters expressed their displeasure over Rahul possibly losing his opening spot despite being the team's top performer with the bat so far on the tour.

"Thus jeopardizing the great form that KL had as an opener!" wrote a fan.

"Justice for KL Rahul. The only batter who looked in control throughout the series has to give up his spot to accommodate Captain," commented another.

"You can't tweak the batting position of technically the best opener going around v the moving ball," chimed in yet another.

KL Rahul is the highest run-getter for Team India in the ongoing BGT 2024-25. The 32-year-old has amassed 235 runs across six innings at an average of 47.

---

"He is short of confidence with self-doubts" - Sanjay Manjrekar on Rohit Sharma's form

Rohit Sharma's red-ball form has come under the scanner following a string of poor performances. He has just 19 runs to his name from three innings in the ongoing series.

Speaking about Sharma's poor form, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar opined that the seasoned campaigner could be dealing with self-doubts. He suggested that the veteran batter's confidence took a hit following the three-match home Test series against New Zealand, where he could muster only 91 runs in six innings.

The cricketer-turned-commentator told ESPNcricinfo:

"He [Rohit Sharma] is short of confidence with self-doubts. And bit of a rude shock when he played in that home series against New Zealand and his defense was getting breached on Indian pitches."

Rohit Sharma has played just one Test in Melbourne. Batting at No. 6, he registered scores of 63* and 5 at the venue during India's tour of Australia in 2018-19.