Last Updated on 2 months by Charbel Coorey

Where Rohit Sharma will bat in the India 11 is one of the big questions ahead of the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). Rohit arrived in Australia during the Perth Test after the birth of his second child, with questions rife regarding his batting position after Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul were outstanding in the opening match.

Jaiswal and Rahul combined for a 201-run opening stand in the second innings to bury Australia’s hopes. In fact, Rahul played beautifully in both innings, scoring 77 (176) second time around after a gritty 74-ball stay in seaming conditions on day one that ended controversially.

ALSO READ: Yashasvi Jaiswal will score more than 40 Test hundreds says Australia all-rounder

Also, Shubman Gill is a chance to return after lining up for India against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra over the weekend. He missed the opening Test due to a fractured thumb.

India possible 11 for 2nd BGT Test vs Australia in Adelaide: Rohit to open or bat in the middle?

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2. KL Rahul, 3. Shubman Gill, 4. Virat Kohli, 5. Rishabh Pant (wk), 6. Rohit Sharma (c), 7. Washington Sundar, 8. Nitish Kumar Reddy, 9. Jasprit Bumrah, 10. Harshit Rana, 11. Mohammed Siraj

According to Boria Majumdar, founder of RevSportz Global, Gill batting at three in the tour match between the Perth and Adelaide Test confirms his fitness.

“Shubman Gill as Rohit Juglan [from RevSports Hindi] reports is padded up at number 3. Should put all debate to rest over his fitness. No one would bat in a game if he isn’t ready. We have been saying this all along,” he wrote on X.

Interestingly, captain Rohit was not padded up early in the India innings. This is perhaps the strongest hint that he will bat in the middle order in the second Test. Of course, that is just speculation at this stage, but one would have thought that batting against the new pink ball under lights would have been great preparation if Rohit is to open in Adelaide.

Rohit ended up batting at four after KL Rahul retired out and made just three off 11 balls. Gill came in at three after Jaiswal was dismissed for 45.

Make up of the India bowling attack?

India have backed Washington Sundar in recent Tests. They could do so again after the all-rounder batted and bowled well in the second innings in Perth.

With regards to the pace attack, Harshit Rana performed admirably on debut and is expected to play again given the long break between Tests. Akash Deep is another solid option.

There is hope that Mohammed Shami will play at some point in this BGT series, but the Adelaide Test is too soon. “Mohammed Shami is expected to fly to Australia at some point during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” read a report by Cricbuzz on Sunday December 1. “The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is ensuring that, when the decision is finally made by the national selectors in collaboration with the team management, it is the right one.”

India’s lineup looks strong, especially given how Nitish Kumar Reddy lengthens the batting lineup and provides a handy fourth seamer option. He scored 41 (59) and 38* (27) on Test debut, while picking up a wicket.