Mohammad Azharuddin Believes Rohit Sharma Deserves A Spot In Test Cricket

Indian limited-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma is presently in an excellent form in white-ball cricket. However, he missed out the ongoing Antigua Test. Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin believes Rohit Sharma deserves a spot in Test cricket.

Rohit Sharma is currently the no.2-ranked ODI batsman. He was the leading run-scorer in the recently concluded ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019. Like Virat Kohli, Rohit has also broken many records in limited-overs international cricket.

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However, Rohit’s Test history isn’t much shining like the limited-overs formats. The right-handed batsman has scored 1,585 runs in 47 Test innings with an average of 39.62. Though he has scored three centuries and ten half-centuries in Test career, Rohit has failed to perform consistently. Especially, Rohit hasn’t good records against the top-ranked Test sides.

For the Antigua Test, Rohit has lost the battle against Hanuma Vihari. In his early Test career, Vihari has shown the potential to maintain strong character. Also, he is currently in the form in the first-class cricket as a middle-order batsman. Moreover, Vihari can be used as a part-time off-spinner while India is playing the ongoing Antigua Test with four regular bowlers,

Rohit Sharma deserves a long run in the Tests – Mohammad Azharuddin

Mohammad Azharuddin believes that Rohit Sharma deserves a long run in the Test cricket. He feels that Rohit’s recent stats support this thought.

Azharuddin told Aaj Tak, “As far as Hanuma Vihari has concerned, he has got enough chances. If you are picking a player like Rohit Sharma in the squad, then I think you should play him in the XI. Because according to me, his record is not at all bad. The stats are there to see. He is such a good player and does well in ODIs also. So he deserves a long run in the Tests.”

KL Rahul is so inconsistent

Meanwhile, Azharuddin also added that Rohit could replace KL Rahul as an opening batsman in Test cricket. As Rahul is struggling to find his form for a long time, the former captain believes that Rohit can easily replace him.

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Azharuddin added, “Rather he can open the innings also. KL Rahul has also got so many chances. He was rather sent back from Australia due to his performances. He is so inconsistent. So Rohit should’ve played and if you pick such a big player then you should play him and respect him.”

Rohit has played his last Test during the 2018 Boxing Day Test against Australia at Melbourne. Since then, India have played two Tests, including the ongoing Antigua Test.