Young India opener Shubman Gill is trying to get back in a good rhythm and he should continue to open for India along with Rohit Sharma in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand as well, said the former India batsman VVS Laxman on Tuesday. Howveer, Team India will play against New Zealand in the much-awaited summit clash at Southampton from June 18.
“Well, I would like continuity. I think Shubman Gill is a wonderful talent, he has shown what he is capable of doing under pressure,” Laxman said in a virtual press conference organized by ‘official broadcasters’ Star Sports. “So, I would back Shubman Gill and also in the intra-squad match, he scored an 80 plus score, so that means he is in good rhythm, his rhythm is untouched here, so I would still back Shubman Gill to open with Rohit Sharma. India is fortunate to have Mayank Agarwal again on the bench, who also has done well in Test match cricket, but at the moment, I would back Shubman Gill to open with Rohit in this Test match.”
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VVS Laxman further added that Team India will start as “favourite” in the final as they have covered all the bases regarding the depth, experience and talent as well.
“I feel that India start as favourites, the reason being if there is one team over the past two years of this cycle of World Test Championship, who are being consistent, who have won both at home and overseas, it is been India. Beating Australia in Australia in-spite of humiliating defeat in the first Test and they lost captain (Virat Kohli), the main captain not being available for rest of the series, a lot of injuries to the senior players but still going on to beat Australia in that fashion and there is so much of depth, talent and experience in this Indian line-up, whether it is the batting department or bowling department,” he again shared.
While talking about the opener Rohit Sharma, Laxman revealed that Sharma needs to focus on his off-stump while facing the dangerous Kiwi attack. He also felt that batting well in the first innings will be important as well.
VVS Laxman told: “For any opener, it’s very important to know where your off stump is and Rohit since the time he’s opened for Indian team the way he played against South Africa, he knew where his off stump was, very disciplined at the start of the innings. And if that’s something Rohit can replicate in England I’m sure that he can perform well.”
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He concluded: “He’s a match winner for the team. But knowing where your off stump is and letting go the balls outside off stump is something which Rohit requires to focus on. He’s got another challenge in the form of Trent Boult who gets the ball in. He also knows that against Boult you cannot take his left leg across. he has to play as much as possible with the full face bat towards the bowler or umpire.”
