K.L. should continue to open with Jaiswal, Rohit can come in at third: Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara advocates for KL Rahul to open with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the second Test against Australia.

Cheteshwar Pujara wants K.L. Rahul to open the batting alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in the second Test against Australia despite the arrival of skipper Rohit Sharma.

Rohit’s absence in the series opener in Perth allowed India to move Rahul to the top of the order from the middle order.

Pujara, the rock of Indian batting on the previous two tours of Australia, feels the opening combination should not be tinkered with after a 295-run win in the series opener.

Jaiswal scored a memorable hundred while Rahul too was impressive, collecting 26 and 77 in the two innings in Perth.

“I think, for some reason if we can carry on with the same batting order, like K.L. and Yashasvi to open, Rohit could come in at three, and Shubman could come in at five,” Pujara said in a chat with ESPNcricinfo.

“If Rohit wants to open, K.L. should bat at No. 3. Nothing later than that. I think he has to bat top of the order, because it suits his game really well. I hope we don’t tinker around with that.”

Gill, who missed the first Test due to a thumb injury, is also expected to feature in the playing eleven in the day-night Test beginning December 6.