“This call was very important” - Sanjay Manjrekar’s massive praise for Rohit Sharma ahead of BGT 2024-25 2nd Test

Sanjay Manjrekar lauded Team India skipper Rohit Sharma for volunteering to give up his opening position for KL Rahul in the second Test of the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) against Australia. Rohit missed the opening encounter in Perth due to a paternity leave.

In Rohit's absence, Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal formed a 201-run partnership for the first wicket in India's second innings. Ahead of the second Test, the Indian captain confirmed that the side won't tinker with the opening combination and he would bat in the middle order.

While Manjrekar opined that Rohit made the right decision, he suggested that the onus will be on Rahul to continue his impressive form. The cricketer-turned-commentator told ESPNcricinfo:

"This call was very important, with the kind of confidence the two openers have. Although this is going to be a different challenge. Now the challenge for KL Rahul is to carry his form. He gave us a lot of promise. Both Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul are looking good. It is almost imperative that KL Rahul carries his form after the last Test."

Manjrekar hailed Rohit for always putting the team ahead of him. Heaping praise on the 37-year-old's selfless approach as leader, the former cricketer remarked:

"He is a guy who has won people's hearts by just being a good leader who puts the team first, the way he batted in the 2023 World Cup as well. So, this was, we suggested it and we all thought it was possible that this would happen, more so because Rohit Sharma was the captain who would always put the team first and him later. It makes a lot of cricketing sense and again shows how Rohit Sharma is a little different from some of the other captains that we have seen."

India clinched a comprehensive 295-run victory under Jasprit Bumrah's captaincy in Perth to take a 1-0 lead in the BGT 2024-25 series. The second Test will be a pink ball Test, set to be played in Adelaide from Friday, December 6.

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"There is no need to change now" - Rohit Sharma on mighty impressed by KL Rahul's batting exploits in Perth Test

Rohit Sharma applauded KL Rahul's batting exploits in the Perth Test. The right-handed batter registered scores of 26 and 77 in the encounter.

At the pre-match press conference ahead of the Adelaide Test, Rohit emphasized that Rahul deserves to bat at the top of the older after his wonderful knock.

"The way KL batted, I was watching from home with a newborn baby in my arms. He played brilliantly, so there is no need to change now; things might be different in the future—the way KL bats overseas, so he deserves that spot at this point in time," he said.

Rohit Sharma is set to play in the middle order in Test cricket after nearly six years. He batted at No. 4 in India's warm-up match against Prime Minister's XI, scoring 3 off 11 balls.