Nets pairing raises question over Rohit Sharma batting at No.4 ahead of India v West Indies ODIs

India's preparations for the three-match ODI series against West Indies have prompted questions over whether Rohit Sharma could bat at No.4 after a training session ahead of the first match in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, 2026. The series opener comes as part of a schedule India is using to prepare for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

The three ODIs will be played in Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati and New Chandigarh. Shubman Gill will lead the side and both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have returned to the ODI squad following their last appearances for India in July. India’s batting group includes Rohit, Gill, Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul and Ruturaj Gaikwad, giving the management multiple options for the top order. Selection over the next few days is expected to focus on combinations for the opening and middle overs.

During India’s first training session ahead of the series, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill were seen batting together in the nets, while Rohit Sharma was observed batting alongside KL Rahul. The pairings in practice have generated discussion about whether Jaiswal and Gill could be used as an opening partnership in the ODIs. Observers noted the net placements as the immediate source of the speculation.

Those net observations have led to the possibility that Rohit could be moved down the order to No.4 if Jaiswal and Gill are named as openers. Virat Kohli is also expected to occupy a significant top-order position in the plans discussed around the camp. For now, there has been no official confirmation from the Indian team about Rohit’s batting slot for the series.

It remains unclear whether India will field the same batting combination in the first ODI, and the announced playing XI will provide clarity on where each batter is likely to come in. Rohit Sharma last appeared in an ODI for India during the team’s series against England in July 2026. Team announcements before the Thiruvananthapuram game will determine the opening pair and middle-order configuration.

The first ODI between India and West Indies is scheduled for September 27, 2026, in Thiruvananthapuram, and the published playing XI for that match will reveal whether Rohit Sharma is used as an opener or is slotted at No.4.