Mumbai: Opener KL Rahul’s poor show with the bat could pave the way for Rohit Sharma’s return to the Indian Test set-up when the selectors meet here Thursday to decide the squad for the two-match series against South Africa next month.
White ball vice-captain Rohit, who couldn’t make the cut in the playing XI against the West Indies, is expected to be tried out as an opener after Hanuma Vihari and Ajinkya Rahane sealed slot No. 5 and No. 6 slots in the batting order respectively. Rohit Sharma’s last Test appearance for India was in the away series against Australia in 2018. Cheteshwar Pujara, at No. 3, and skipper Virat Kohli, at No. 4, automatically pick themselves.
This has left head coach Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli with only one option, to try an explosive player like Rohit at the top of the order, following the impact made by the ‘Virender Sehwag model’.
Bengal opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, a prolific performer at the domestic and India A games, could be rewarded with a place in the side as a reserve opener, if the selection committee decides to drop Rahul. The other openers in fray are Priyank Panchal of Gujarat and Shubman Gill of Punjab.
With Mayank Agarwal assured of his place, the only bone of contention could be the opening slot where a 15-member squad could ensure both Rohit and Abhimanyu Easwaran make it.
In case they both Rohit and Easwaran make it to the team, then they might feature in the India A side in the two-day practice game against South Africa in Vizianagaram before the first Test in Visakhapatnam, beginning October 2.
Otherwise, the selection will remain pretty straightforward with only Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who isn’t fully fit, likely to miss out. In that case, all-rounder Hardik Pandya could be back in the Test squad or else Navdeep Saini might come in as a back-up pacer. However the selectors may decide to use Hardik Pandya in the white ball format only and rest him keeping in mind the T20 World Cup next year.
Test matches in India normally feature one specialist keeper in the side but Wriddhiman Saha is very much in the scheme of things even though Rishabh Pant remains the top choice.
Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin will be the three spinners while Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma will be the three pacers. In case Shami is rested, then Umesh Yadav may come in.
Likely Squad:
(Openers): Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma
(Middle order): Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari
(All-rounder): Hardik Pandya
(Wicket-keepers): Rishabh Pant, Wriddhiman Saha
(Pacers): Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami/Umesh Yadav
(Spinners): Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav
(In Contention): Abhimanyu Easwaran (3rd opener), Priyank Panchal (3rd opener), Navdeep Saini (reserve pacer).
PNN & Agencies