Rohit Sharma on flexibility in batting order: 'We don't do that kind of madness'

Rohit Sharma stressed the importance of flexibility when it came to middleorder batters as no one in the national team owns any particular batting position The Indian captain also said that each and every player who plays or misses out has received clear communication about what role is expected of them and where they stand in terms of their international careerAsked how Ishan Kishan will be placed vis a vis his batting slot if KL Rahul misses out against Pakistan in the Asia Cup opener Rohit explained the teams thought processAjit Agarkar is new to the picture and he didnt know what was happening before that I have tried to keep him updated as much as possible Rohit said while answering the PTI queryOne thing I need in this team is everyone ready to bat anywhere Cricket is moving in a different direction You can step up at any position no one should say I am good at this position and that position That is the message that has been conveyed to every individual not now but thats happening for last two three or four years the skipper saidI know its tough for you guys outside to understand that why a guy who was batting at No 6 is suddenly batting at No 4 It hasnt happened overnight He has been prepared for that role This is international sport we are talking about This is not club cricketHe should be able to bat anywhere that team requires him to Not like we go off to sleep at night telling a batter a position and next morning we change that position It doesnt happen like that Rohit said in his inimitable styleThe Indian skipper seemed a trifle irritated when asked why India doesnt have a settled No 4We have got guys who can bat at No4 Its not about No4 Its about top three and there onwards 4 5 6 7 and there onwards and who can win us game There have been challenges and guys have been put under pressure and thats a good thingUnfortunately we had injuries along the line and we had to try out different players and keep in mind workload management and see what combination suits usWe have 9 ODIs and 2 practice games and we have lot of games where these guys will get a chance to make the position their own he addedWhen a scribe tried to grill him on his flexibility logic asking if random batting position changes create instability his answer was akin to a pull shot that he plays against fast bowlersWhen I said flexibility is necessary I never said Hardik Pandya will open the innings Not that Its not top three but ones batting at No 4 or 5 who need to be flexible to bat up or downNo 5 is Rahul and No 6 is Hardik but if theres some change that flexibility is required as we also as youngsters did it There is a method We dont do that kind of madness This is not school rule that numbers 1 to 8 are fixed Its not about creating mayhem the sarcasm wasnt lost on anyoneAlso Read Team Indias Big Three and the inevitability of successionYuzvendra Chahal looks likely to miss the World Cup bus and Rohit was very categorical that he couldnt have afforded to miss out on pace bowling option in order to pick him or Ravichandran AshwinWe thought about off spinner Ashwin and Washy Washington Sundar but right now you saw Chahal has to miss out and we cant get him in because we can take only 15 and only way we could have done that is by dropping a seamerWe cannot do that considering amount of games that is going to happen some of them coming back after long time and we can have a good look at them See what they have to offerBut like any skipper would do Rohit said that doors are not closed on anyone although it was more of a consolation statementNo doors are closed on anyone Chahal has played lot of white ball cricket and if we need him we would find ways to squeeze him in So is Ashwin or Washy Option is open for anyone he concludedWith agency inputs