We are familiar with Rohit’s batsman-ship at the top order, when he dons Team India’s jersey. In fact, he’s the only player to score two double centuries in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and one of the only two Indians to score a hundred in T20Is. And, when it comes to IPL, he’s the second highest run scorer, pasting 3,385 runs at an astonishing average of 32.54 and staggering strike-rate of 131.55.
Rohit has batted at all the positions in the T20 domestic extravaganza. But how will his team benefit if he opens the batting? In last edition’s first match between MI and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rohit opened the batting with Australia’s Aaron Finch and plundered unbeaten 65-ball 98 at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens (of course, Rohit never fails to display his brilliance at Eden Gardens). Eventually, MI lost the match despite Rohit’s floury. Rohit pushed himself down the order after scoring ducks in the next 2 matches. MI dropped Finch and let Lendl Simmons open with Parthiv Patel. This change did not hamper Rohit performance, as he batted well in the middle order, scoring overall 482 runs at an average of 34.42.
However, since MI bought the rampant wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler in the auction, the team composition has altered a little. Given the kind of form Buttler was in the recently concluded ICC World T20 2016, MI is likely to drop Parthiv. As we witnessed in the World T20, Buttler batted in middle order and helped England scale up the run-rate by going all guns blazing. Mumbai is likely to do the same. Hence, the question beckons: where will Rohit bat if the team already has Buttler, Corey Anderson, Kieron Pollard, Ambati Rayudu and Hardik Pandya at middle and lower-middle order? Also Read: Mumbai Indians vs Rising Pune Supergiants, IPL 2016 Match 1 at Mumbai, Preview: Defending champions MI wary of CSK remnants RPS
With Lasith Malinga injured, Mumbai is likely to draft the following four foreigners: Simmons, Buttler, Anderson and Pollard. Looking at these compositions, it leaves Rohit no choice but to open the batting. However, if they decide to go for Unmukt Chand, Rohit will bat one down.
In a special press conference held by MI, Rohit said, ”I would like to open, but it depends on the needs of Mumbai Indians.”
All in all, looking at MI’s rampaging bench strength, there will be a number of permutations and combinations. Whether Rohit will open for MI, is something only time can tell.
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(Kaustubh S. Mayekar, a reporter at CricketCountry, played cricket at U-16 level. Like his idol Rahul Dravid, he often shadow-practises cricket shots. His Twitter handle is @TheCricKnight.)
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