‘It takes just 1 ball for a number 3 to go in…….’ – Rohit Sharma lifts lid on Shubman Gill’s batting position change in Test series vs SA

India’s skipper Rohit Sharma has recently opened up about the reason behind Shubman Gill’s batting at number 3 rather than opening position in Test cricket. Notably, Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the openers for the Test series against South Africa, Gill is currently batting at number 3, followed by Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul at numbers 4, 5, and 6, respectively.

However, Rohit Sharma feels there is not much difference in batting from number one to number three in Test cricket. In addition, the 36-year-old skipper heaps praise on Gill and backs him to understand the situation well in the game.

“There is not much difference (on opening to batting at number 3). It takes just 1 ball for a number 3 to go in. And sometimes when an opener gets injured, a number 3 has to walk out and open the innings. I don’t see much difference there. Gill is smart and understands his batting pretty well,” Rohit Sharma told the reporters ahead of the second Test starting on Wednesday at Newlands, Cape Town.

Shubman Gill batted in the Ranji Trophy at that number around that position: Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma reveals that the young batter doesn’t have any problem batting at number 3, as he prefers that position in the Ranji Trophy as well. Moreover, the stylish right-handed batter reveals that he also hated batting at number 3. However, he realizes that positions are not fixed from number 3 to number 7 in any format of the game.

“He prefers that number. Gill has batted in the Ranji Trophy at that number around that position. He has opened in Test and limited overs games but the number 3 was his preference. He feels he can do well for us batting at that position. It is an individual thing about how you think about certain positions. I hated batting at number 3 and that is my opinion. Since I started opening, from 3 onwards till number 7, I don’t think it is the right position for anyone,” he added further.