Rohit Sharma’s injury has created quite a stir in the cricket world. After sustaining an ankle injury during the first ODI against Bangladesh, it was confirmed that the Indian captain will not bat in the second ODI. The selectors have opted to rest Rohit and bring back KL Rahul in place of him.
So, who will bat at number 5 for India? Let us take a look at the match situation and see if there is any clue as to who will be playing. India vs Bangladesh 2nd ODI: Mirpur Match Date: December 07, 2022 Time: 11:30 AM IST India are in a tough spot with Rohit Sharma ruled out of the game.
KL Rahul is likely to come into the side and bat at number 5. With Shakib Al Hasan also injured, Spinners Sulieman Benn and Kuldeep Yadav could play their part too. If you are looking to bet on this game, we would say go with India as they need all the help they can get to win this one. However, if you want to punt on this game or any other cricket matches happening around the world, our recommendation would be to stick to safer options.
Rohit Sharma injury update
Rohit Sharma, who was stretchered off the field during India’s first ODI against Bangladesh on Sunday night, is likely to miss the remaining two ODIs and the upcoming Test series as he recovers from a shoulder injury. Rohit Sharma was injured when he was hit by a delivery from Mehidy Hasan, and was seen clutching his shoulder after being struck.
The Indian captain was immediately taken off the field and underwent a scan which revealed that he had sustained an AC joint sprain in his shoulder. Naturally, this is a serious injury for Rohit Sharma as it means that he will be out of action for at least six weeks. Considering how important these three matches are for India, it is surely a big blow for the team that their captain will not be available for selection.
Now comes the tricky part for India – will Rohit Sharma bat in either of the two remaining ODIs or in the Test series? It looks like he might not be able to play any cricket until at least six weeks after sustaining his injury. This means that Virat Kohli may have to call upon Ajinkya Rahane to deputise as captain in both of these matches while Rohit Sharma recovers.
India vs Bangladesh 2nd ODI in Mirpur
After the controversy surrounding Rohit Sharma’s back injury, it was revealed that he will not bat in the second ODI against Bangladesh. Virat Kohli has been confirmed to captain India in this game. However, with Kedar Jadhav not being available, Rohit may come in as a reserve batsman.
Sharma was seen icing his back during the first ODI and missed out on batting even though he had recovered from an ankle injury which ruled him out of the England series. The team management decided to take a cautious approach with the 26-year-old after consulting a few doctors. Rohit Sharma is set to resume training from next week and could be available for selection before the final two ODIs of the tour.
Who will bat for India in the second ODI?
India skipper Virat Kohli will lead the side in the second ODI against Bangladesh in Mirpur on Saturday. With Rohit Sharma unavailable due to an injury, who will open the innings for India? The answer is Ajinkya Rahane. Rahane has been batting at number three for India in the ODIs so far and is likely to retain that position against Bangladesh. KL Rahul will occupy the number four slot and Shikhar Dhawan will be at five.
Possible replacements for Rohit Sharma in the squad
India will likely have to search for a new opener in the wake of Rohit Sharma’s injury. In his absence, there are several possible replacements that could be chosen.
The first option would be to bring back Shikhar Dhawan, who has been scoring runs at a healthy rate in the IPL. He has had some good performances against Bangladesh in the past, and can provide valuable experience for the team.
The second option is to choose someone like Dinesh Karthik or Kedar Jadhav as openers. Both of these players have performed well in limited-overs cricket, and can provide India with stability at the top of the order.
If neither of those options work out, then India may need to look outside of their own set-up for an opener. Yuvraj Singh is a player who could be called up to fill this role if needed. He has experience against Bangladesh and knows how to score runs in big games.
Conclusion
Rohit Sharma continues to be sidelined with a hamstring injury and while the Indian captain is hopeful of returning during India’s upcoming home ODI series against Bangladesh, there is no confirmation yet that he will indeed play. With Rohit sidelined, it will be up to KL Rahul, who has been in sublime form this year, to lead India in both the first and second matches of the series.