Published: Sep 10, 2019, 02:05 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 10, 2019, 02:05 PM (IST)
BCCI chairman of selectors MSK Prasad has said that his panel will definitely evaluate the possibility of promoting Rohit Sharma up the order as an opener in Test cricket.
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While Rohit is a batting mainstay in India’s limited-overs setup, he hasn’t been able to crack the Test code, yet. He has batted mostly in the middle order in Test cricket with all three of his centuries coming in at No.6.
With the middle-order duo of Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari putting up solid performances during the recent tour of the West Indies, the slot is all but sealed for the time being. With that in mind, the next best option for Rohit comes across as opener considering he has been excellent at the position in limited-overs cricket.
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His claim is also helped by the form of opener KL Rahul who registered scores of 13, 6, 44, 38 against West Indies.
“As selection committee we haven’t met after the conclusion of the West Indies tour. We will definitely take this (Rohit as opener) point into consideration when we all meet and discuss about it,” Prasad told India Today. “KL (Rahul) is definitely a great talent. Of course, he is going through a bit of a tough time in Test cricket. We are definitely concerned about his form. He needs to spend more time on the wicket and regain his touch and form.”
More recently, the selection panel has been trying out various options in the spin department in white-ball cricket despite the presence of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. During the West Indies tour, Washington Sundar and Rahul Chahar were given opportunities and Prasad it has been done to add variety to India’s spin attack.
“In order to bring variety in the spin bowling department, we have been trying youngsters keeping in view the T20 World Cup. Chahal and Kuldeep have been outstanding performers in the shorter formats in the last two years. They are definitely ahead in the race now. It’s just that we are trying few other options now,” Prasad said.
