India vs South Africa 2019 Test Squad Selection: Rohit Sharma & Other Batsmen Who Can Replace KL Rahul As Opener

Chief selector MSK Prasad and his team will be announcing Indian squad for three-match Test series against South Africa at home. And all eyes will be on the selection of opening batsmen. India’s regular opener, KL Rahul’s struggles with the bat, has led to talks of him being dropped from the Indian team for the upcoming tests against South Africa. And with MSK Prasad hinting at trying Rohit Sharma, Indian Vice-Captain in the limited-overs format, it makes the team selection announcement quite exciting. The failure of the openers has often led to pressure on the middle order where Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara have been world-class. Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari securing their place in no 5 and no 6 slots, so they will not likely be pushed up. With important games coming up in the World Test Championship, a look at the players in the fray to be India’s opener in Test cricket. India vs South Africa 2019 Schedule for Free PDF Download Online: Full Timetable of IND vs SA Fixtures With Match Timings and Venue Details.

Rohit Sharma – There are reports coach Ravi Shastri wants a Virender Sehwag type batsman to open for India in the longer format of the game. Hence there is none better than hitman Rohit Sharma to fit the bill. He was not picked up in games against West Indies as there was no place for him in the middle order. His aggressive style of batting coupled with playing in home conditions makes him an automatic pick. His selection in the team will also help clam his fans who have accused the team management of disrespecting the senior player.

Abhimanyu Easwaran – Newly appointed Bengal skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran has been scoring runs in all formats. In 52 first-class games, he has scored 4067 runs at an average of close to 50. The 24-year-old has 13 centuries and 17 half-centuries and is full of confidence at the moment. Despite not doing well in the West Indies A tour, he can make the cut as a backup opener. 

Shubhman Gill – Talented opener Shubhman Gill is leading India A currently against South Africa and narrowly missed out on a century in the unofficial game at Thiruvananthapuram. The youngster has often been in the news for narrowly missing out in India’s senior team call up across formats, but the selectors just might end his ordeal with a place in the15 man squad for the South Africa series. The selectors might remove Wriddhiman Saha from the side as there is no need of a second wicketkeeper in a home series. This, in turn, may see Shubhman Gill being seen as a prospect in the middle order too.

Karun Nair – With six games to his name, Karun Nair has played a few tests for India, and it was in one of these games that he scored a triple ton. He lost his place in the side shortly and never got another break. Now, after some excellent performance in domestic cricket, he is back in the news. He is not an opener, and this is one reason he might miss out on being named in the squad.

Rohit Sharma looks set to open for India unless there is a change of heart of the selectors at the last moment. With these players doing well, it just might be the end of the road for K L Rahul in test cricket for a while.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 12, 2019 03:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).