With Rohit Sharma available for the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Indian team might be in a conundrum on whom the player should replace in the playing XI.
While Mayank Agarwal has not been amongst the runs in the first two Tests and the New Zealand series earlier in the year after a great start to his Test career, Shubman Gill has showcased his abilities with a couple of attractive knocks in the Boxing Day Test.
During a discussion on Sports Today, Pragyan Ojha was asked if the Indian team could even consider moving Hanuma Vihari up the order as an opener for the Sydney Test.
Ojha responded that the Indian team needs to go by the defined processes and observed that Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami are likely to come straight back into the XI after recovering from their injuries even though Mohammed Siraj has done well.
Pragyan Ojha pointed out that on similar lines, Shubman Gill, despite the impressive knocks he played in the Melbourne Test, should make way for Rohit Sharma at the top of the order. He added that the incumbent opener Mayank Agarwal should partner Rohit Sharma at the other end.
“Hanuma Vihari should bat in the middle order” - Pragyan Ojha
Pragyan Ojha has said that Hanuma Vihari should not be made to bat at the top of the order, as frequent changes in batting position unsettle a batsman. In this regard, Ojha observed:
Pragyan Ojha signed off by reiterating that Shubman Gill should be rested to accommodate Rohit Sharma. He reckoned that such a decision would be a morale-booster for Mayank Agarwal.
Although Ojha favours Rohit Sharma to replace Shubman Gill, the Indian team is unlikely to go down that route.
Mayank Agarwal is likely to miss out on a spot in the Sydney Test because more than the lack of runs from his willow, some of his technical deficiencies have been exposed by the Australian quicks which he needs to work on.
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