Virender Sehwag wants Rohit Sharma to open in Test cricket

The Indian cricket team is in utter shambles, having already lost the five-match Test series against England. The final match at Kennington Oval in London starts from September 7 and the encounter is undoubtedly a dead rubber, but India have the chance to salvage some pride and mitigate the pain they have encountered thus far in the previous four matches.

In the meantime, their team management may give some of their benched players an opportunity in the upcoming Test, 18-year-old Prithvi Shaw is one of them. He has tasted a fair amount of success and may replace KL Rahul, who hasn’t been able to hit his straps, in the eleven. However, Virender Sehwag reckons that more than Shaw, Rohit Sharma deserves an opportunity.

He’ll get to learn a lot

“Prithvi Shaw might get a chance in the fifth Test. But I believe, Rohit deserves a chance before the young chap. India can try Rohit first and then call up Prithvi if he fails to deliver. They can keep Prithvi Shaw in the squad as a third opener. In that way, he’ll get to learn a lot in the presence of senior players,” Sehwag was quoted as saying in India TV.

Shaw has had an incredible year as he led the Indian U19 team to glory in the World Cup. Thereafter, he was blessed with a lucrative contract for the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League after which he was drafted into the India A team, which played One Dayers and first-class matches against England Lions, Windies ‘A’ and South Africa ‘A’.

Rohit has been a success in Tests in India, however, hasn’t been able to translate the form in overseas conditions. He last donned the white national jersey during India’s tour of South Africa earlier this year. Bearing in mind the disappointment India’s batsmen have dished out, it will be interesting to see whether Rohit gets an opportunity in the Australia Tests later this year or not.

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