While Rohit Sharma will be opening the batting for India in the Test series against South Africa starting on Wednesday, there has been the talk of not giving chances to the players who have done well in the domestic circuit. Shubman Gill has been included in the squad but players like Abhimanyu Easwaran and Priyank Panchal are still waiting for their maiden call-up.
The Indian skipper, Virat Kohli said that while players will get a chance on the back of their performances, the decision to play Rohit as an opener is one that the Team India think tank wanted to try for a long time.
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On the eve of the Vizag Test, during the pre-match press conference, Virat said, “This is basically an opportunity for us to do something that we wanted to do for a long time and let that particular process happen over a period of time. We have given people opportunities in the past. Mayank (Agarwal) came into the system, KL (Rahul) had been there for a while, (Murali) Vijay was opening for a while so there is definitely going to be room for people to come in because of their performances.”
He further added, “We feel like because we have a test championship to look forward to and Rohit’s been in the test setup for a long time, it’s about providing him with the opportunity to really find his game and find that template that he really wants to in Test cricket. We understand that if he does that then our batting order at the top becomes even more lethal. It’s difficult to have a player like Rohit not start for you every time. This is probably the most exciting opportunity for him and us as a team as well.”
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Panchal was a star performer for Gujarat in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy season, scoring 898 runs in nine matches. Bengal opener Easwaran also made a case for a national team call up with 861 runs in six matches. On the other hand, Shubman Gill, who has put in some impressive performances for India A, averages close to 70 in First Class cricket and has 1,535 runs from 15 matches.
Speaking about giving chances to new players, Virat said that it was great to have so many options ready and waiting to take their opportunities.
The Indian skipper elaborated, “People are always going to be knocking on the doors because of their performances and it is a great thing that we have so many people who are performing so consistently and are hungry to play Test cricket. I am sure in the future wherever the opportunity presents itself, they will get a chance as and when.”
Rohit’s first audition as a Test opener did not go very well as he was dismissed for a two-ball duck to South Africa’s Vernon Philander in the practice match for Indian Board President’s XI.
