Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has not scored a half-century in the last three Tests despite getting starts. As India are without the services of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Ravindra Jadeja for the second Test, former opener Deep Dasgupta has suggested that Rohit should bat at no.4 in Visakhapatnam.
Dasgupta picked one debutant in India’s playing XI for the second Test. He wants an out-of-form Shubman Gill to open the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rajat Patidar at no.3 followed by Rohit. In addition, he wants Rohit to opt for a four-spinner strategy and include Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav.
"I want Rohit (Sharma) to bat at No. 4. It is slightly out of the box and I will go in with four spinners, which will have both Washington (Sundar) and Kuldeep (Yadav). I will play one less seamer," Dasgupta expressed his opinion on his YouTube channel.
Interestingly, Rohit made his debut as a Test opener at the same venue. He scored a century in each innings of the Test in 2019 against South Africa. On the other hand, Rohit has batted only once at no.4. In 2015, he managed to score just four runs at the position.
No Sarfaraz and just one pacer in playing XI
Dasgupta did not pick an in-form Sarfaraz Khan who scored 161 against England Lions last month.
Now let me quickly go through the playing XI. If I get Shubman (Gill) and Yashasvi (Jaiswal) to open, (Rajat) Patidar plays at No. 3 because that is where he plays. Rohit plays at No. 4 and Shreyas (Iyer) at No. 5," he said.
"You can keep a left-hander in Washington at No. 6 because it is important to have a left-hander, which we saw in the last match as well. So, Washington at No. 6," the cricketer-turned-commentator said.
Also, the 46-year-old wants India to go into the match with just one fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah.
"(Ravi) Ashwin at No. 7, Kona (Bharat) at No. 8, Axar (Patel) at No. 9, Kuldeep at No. 10 and (Jasprit) Bumrah at No. 11. So, Bumrah will be the only seamer," he added.
Meanwhile, England have announced their playing XI for the second Test making just one forced change. Shoaib Bashir is set to make his Test debut in the absence of an injured Jack Leach.
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