Harbhajan Singh has picked his two openers for Team India for the upcoming Test series against Australia. Even before the series has begun team India is already under the pump. Indian captain Virat Kohli will be leaving for India after the first Test whereas two experienced players Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma are still on the injured list.
Harbhajan Singh Names His Two India Openers Against Australia
The opening position is probably the most important batting partnership in Test cricket. In 2018-19 in Australia, Mayank Agarwal was outstanding but his partner KL Rahul was inconsistent throughout the series. However, now Rahul has matured immensely in recent times and Harbhajan for a change wants to bat him at 4 in absence of Kohli. As far as the two Indian openers for the Test series are concerned, Harbhajan hopes that Rohit is fully fit and will open alongside Mayank Agarwal.
“I would not change the opening combination, Rohit Sharma should open in Australia and KL Rahul can fill that slot for Virat Kohli. Rahul is too good a player to bat at No. 3, 4, or even open. It will not make a huge difference if he bats at No. 3 or opens because he is a quality player”, he said while speaking to India Today.
Meanwhile, another option for team India as an opener, if Rohit is ruled out of the Test series, is Prithvi Shaw. The exciting young batsman opened the innings for India in their last Test series in New Zealand. Shubman Gill is also part of the Test squad who has an outstanding first-class cricket and has an outside chance to play as an opener.
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Harbhajan also pointed out that the first day-night Test at Adelaide will be extremely significant. The pink ball usually does a lot in the evening and the batsman will have to bat with a tighter technique. The Indian spinner also forewarned Australia for taking Indian fast bowlers as they have the potential to make inroads in their batting.
“Both the teams will be starting from scratch and it will come down to who plays the better cricket and who will bowl better. The pink ball seams around a lot when it’s new but once the seam settles down it gets easier to bat. Our seamers will be looking forward to bowl with the pink ball because India has got a great line-up”.
“Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and the others can do the damage which Australia will also look to do,” the 40-year-old added.
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