In recent times, the young protege, Shubman Gill was almost unstoppable in the recently-concluded India A series and it has certainly increased the chances of him making a Test debut feels senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. Shubman had scores of 83 and 204 not out batting in middle-order in the first ‘A’ Test and then scored a century while opening in the second game, showing his versatility at different slots.

Prithvi Shaw, back in the Test squad after 16 months, is also a contender in the playing XI with his equally dazzling repertoire of strokes. As per the quotes in PTI, Harbhajan said, “Shubman should get his chance since he has been part of the team (as reserve opener) for quite a while without playing any Test match.”

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The Indian team management will be having a tough time to choose between Prithvi and Shubman as Mayank Agarwal’s opening partner in the first Test against New Zealand, starting February 21. However, Mayank has been going through the wretched form, bagging a pair (0 in both innings) of the ‘A’ Test in Christchurch and failing in all three ODIs. He also had a quiet couple of Ranji Trophy games. 

However, Harbhajan feels that Agarwal should continue as the main opener. The veteran spinner said, “Mayank is a proven player in Test cricket and a top batsman. He understands his game very well. Just because of three ODI innings and a practice game, you don’t drop him. It doesn’t work like that. He has been scoring lots of runs wherever he is playing, so I feel Mayank and Shubman should start in first Test.”

Asked if Shubman, whose range of strokes is way more than Hanuma Vihari, could be accommodated in the middle-order, Bhajji replied in the negative. 

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Harbhajan said, “No, in the middle order, Vihari is a better bet. He has done nothing wrong in his limited opportunities. Shubman’s real impact is when he is opening.”