Rohit Sharma should be given chance to open in Tests, suggests Sourav Ganguly

08/22/2019

Since India's veteran openers Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan have lost their form, India have struggled to find a stable pair of openers in Tests. In this light, former captain Sourav Ganguly has suggested that Rohit Sharma should open in Tests while Ajinkya Rahane consolidated the middle-order.

According to the former Indian Test captain Sourav Ganguly, India must get their star opener in limited-overs Rohit Sharma to open in Test cricket too. Ganguly made this comment considering the visiting team's combination for the first Test against West Indies in Antigua, that starts on Thursday.

The 32-year-old opener has established himself as a significant part of India's T20I and ODI formats and was the best batsman of the team throughout the World Cup, finishing with the most number of runs in England. In Test Cricket, however, Rohit has only batted in the middle order but could never really cement his position as a Test batsman. And Ganguly has been of the opinion that this issue could be resolved if Sharma opened in the longest format.

In the current set up, India have been lacking a regular opener with youngster Prithvi Shaw currently serving a doping ban. Consequently, Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul have taken up the duties.

"The major decision is whether they want to play Rohit or Rahane," said former captain Sourav Ganguly, according to the TOI.

"Rohit was in blistering form in the World Cup, but in Tests in South Africa and Australia, he was 'on and off'. Rahane was not his usual self in Australia.

"My suggestion would be to let Rohit carry on his good form from the World Cup and settle in the opener's slot while Rahane continues his good work of lending stability to the middle order."

Another decision that India would have to make, would be between the experienced Wriddhiman Saha and the young and promising Rishabh Pant for the role of the wicketkeeper.

"After his impressive showing in Test cricket in Australia and England, Rishabh Pant should be starting ahead of Wriddhiman," added Ganguly.