Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly wants to see Rohit Sharma as an opener in the Test series against the host side Windies.
Windies and India will start their two-match Test series on Thursday (22nd August). Sourav Ganguly wants to see both Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane in the playing XI during this Test series. Both these players have struggled in the recent Test cricket.
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However, observing Rohit’s recent limited-overs form, Ganguly has suggested choosing him as a Test opener. The former Indian captain has enough faith in Rahane in the middle-order batting.
Ganguly wrote for TOI, “For India the major decision is whether they want to play Rohit or Rahane. Rohit was in blistering form in the World Cup, but in Tests in South Africa and Australia, he was ‘on and off’. Rahane was not his usual self in Australia.
“My suggestion would be to let Rohit carry on his good form from the World Cup and settle in the opener’s slot while Rahane continues his good work of lending stability to the middle-order.”
Rohit Sharma (648 runs) was the leading run-scorer in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019. However, in his last two-Test series in South Africa and Australia, Rohit scored a total of just 184 runs in eight innings with an average of 26.28.
On the other hand, Ajinkya Rahane scored 217 runs in seven innings with an average of 31.00 during India’s last Test series in Australia.
Though Ganguly wants to see Rohit Sharma as a Test opener, the Indian team is likely not following the same path in this Test series. In the pre-match press conference, the Indian captain Virat Kohli has hinted to go with KL Rahul-Mayank Agarwal opening partnership in this Test series.
Rishabh Pant should be starting ahead of Wriddhiman – Sourav Ganguly
Talking about the other members in the playing XI during this forthcoming Test series, Ganguly prefers Rishabh Pant over Wriddhiman Saha for the wicketkeeping role.
Ganguly claimed, “After his impressive showing in Test cricket in Australia and England, Rishabh Pant should be starting ahead of Wriddhiman.”
As the pace-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya is absence in this Test series, Ganguly wants to go with Ravindra Jadeja.
The former Indian captain added, “The absence of Hardik Pandya provides an opportunity to Ravindra Jadeja to fill in a slot where he can be a useful batter and the second spinner, which the management seem inclined towards.”
Talking about the bowling, Ganguly chose Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami in the pace bowling line-up. In the spin-bowling role, Ganguly backs the off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin along with the all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
Ganguly wrote, “Ishant and Bumrah are certain and I would prefer Shami over Bhuvneshwar (Bhuvneshwar is not in the squad). As for the specialist spinner, it should be the experienced Ashwin first and that would bring back the old pair of Jadeja and Ashwin together.”
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (Antigua) is set to host the opening Test of this series. It is going to be the first Test for both sides in the 2019-21 ICC World Test Championship.