"Why would you send Rohit up the order when he is not in form?" - Harbhajan Singh expects 2 changes in India's playing XI for BGT 2024-25 3rd Test

Harbhajan Singh expects India to stick with the same batting order, with Rohit Sharma playing at No. 6 in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, starting in Brisbane on Saturday, December 14. However, he sees the visitors making two changes in the bowling department.

Australia beat India by 10 wickets in the recently concluded Adelaide Test to draw level in the five-match series. Rohit, who batted at No. 6, aggregated a paltry 9 runs across two innings.

On the Star Sports show 'Follow the Blues', Harbhajan opined that Rohit would likely continue to bat in the middle order.

"I don't think there will be any change in the batting order. I feel the batting order will be like this only. We discussed yesterday on the show that Rohit Sharma should probably come up the order. (Sunil) Gavaskar sahab also said that, but I feel the team management will not think like that," he said.

"They will probably go with the same kind of batting order that worked for them in Perth. Rohit is also not in great form. So why would you send him (Rohit) up the order when he is not in form? I feel you should start with KL Rahul and Yashasvi (Jaiswal) only, and Rohit should bat in the middle order," Harbhajan added.

KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal stitched together a 201-run opening partnership in India's second innings of the first Test in Perth. However, they couldn't replicate that performance in Adelaide, with Jaiswal getting dismissed off the game's first ball and the duo adding only 12 runs in the second innings.

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"Washington Sundar might come back and play in Brisbane" - Harbhajan Singh

Washington Sundar (left) picked up two wickets in Australia's second innings in Perth. [P/C: Geety]

On the same show, Harbhajan Singh opined that Washington Sundar will likely replace Ravichandran Ashwin in India's playing XI in Brisbane.

"I feel we might see one change. Washington Sundar might come back and play in Brisbane. Although Ashwin didn't bowl much and didn't get much opportunity to do anything special, the way Washington Sundar's first match went, he picked up two wickets and is slightly better with the bat, I feel he will be played," he said.

The former India spinner reckons Harshit Rana will make way for Prasidh Krishna in the seam-bowling department.

"I feel we will see one change in fast bowling. Prasidh Krishna can probably play in place of Harshit Rana. He has the height and can get the ball to bounce. I feel he can be quite handy on that fast wicket," Harbhajan reasoned.

Rana went wicketless and bagged a pair with the bat in Adelaide. He might be replaced by either Krishna or Akash Deep for the Brisbane Test.