Danish Kaneria advises struggling Rohit-Kohli to change batting order in Australia

Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria has advised star India batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to change their batting order in the upcoming tour of Australia.

In Short

• Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are struggling for form
• The duo has scored just one fifty in last 10 innings
• There have been widespread concerns on their form

Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria has advised India stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to drop down in the batting order in the upcoming Test series in Australia. Notably, both Kohli and Rohit have been struggling for form in Tests in recent times which has resulted in India losing their first Test series at home since 2012 as they were whitewashed 0-3 by New Zealand.

Following India’s debacle at home, there have been widespread concerns raised about the all-important upcoming five-match Test series against Australia. Danish Kaneria has also highlighted major concerns for the star batting duo in Australia and advised them to drop one down in the batting order. With the ball set to get more help on the fast and bouncy tracks of Australia, Kaneria suggested Rohit should bat at number three.

"Just see if Rohit Sharma is still comfortable opening or if he should come in one-down and change his order a little bit because he has been struggling with the track in India. In the recent series, Southee got him out twice, and the ball will move more over there in Australia, so you have to see how you go with that," Kaneria told Times of India.

Jaiswal and Shubman should open in Australia: Danish Kaneria

Further ahead, the former wrist spinner said that Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill should open the innings for India and Virat Kohli should also drop down to number four.

"The Indian top order should be Jaiswal and Shubman as openers, Rohit coming one-down, and Virat two-down. They have to manage that. Gambhir needs to manage the long Indian batting line-up, as Ashwin and Jadeja are there, so they have a deep batting line-up," he added.

In India’s recent home Test season, both Rohit and Kohli were seen in horrendous form as the India skipper scored just 133 runs from five matches at an average of 13.30 with one fifty. On the other hand, Kohli scored just 192 runs at an average of 21.33 with just one half century. Following their poor outings, questions have been raised on their place in the team and the duo will have to bat out of their skins to prove their naysayers wrong in Australia.