Rohit Sharma believes MS Dhoni is India’s ‘ideal’ number four, despite Virat Kohli expressing a preference for Ambati Rayudu.
Dhoni, batting at No. 5, scored a half-century against Australia on Saturday but was unable to prevent the hosts from taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
After Australia posted 288-5 – with Peter Handscomb, Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh scoring fifties – India fell 34 runs short in their chase despite Sharma’s impressive hundred.
Speaking after the defeat, Sharma suggested former India skipper Dhoni should be promoted up the batting order.
He said: ‘Personally always feel that Dhoni batting at No. 4 will be ideal for the team but we have got Rayudu who has done really well now at No. 4.
‘It totally depends on what the captain and coach think about it. Personally, I would be happy if Dhoni bats at four.’
Before the match, Kohli had reiterated his belief that Rayudu was the right man to bat at number four.
Dhoni’s 95-ball 53 included just four boundaries and many Indian fans felt he batted too slowly, allowing Australia to take control of the game.
But opening batsman Sharma said: ‘If you look at his overall batting strike rate it’s around 90.
‘But when he came out to bat today we had already lost three wickets and the guys were bowling pretty well at that point. So we had to respect that spell and we wanted to get partnerships.
‘It’s pretty simple with him, doesn’t complicate things, as he came on to bat we spoke about building a partnership because it was crucial at that point and it was great to see him come and bat at No. 5.
‘We lost three early wickets but he is keen to go out there and bat and get those runs as well.
‘So it’s a good sign for us that he showed he can come out and bat any time the team wants him to bat. And with him, he tries to keep things very simple and I am pretty similar to that.’
