Legendary batsman, Sunil Gavaskar has backed Mayank Agarwal and Rohit Sharma to open the Indian batting in the third Test against Australia, starting from January 7. India levelled the four-match series 1-1 after defeating Australia by 8 wickets in the Boxing Day Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Hitman is likely to complete his mandatory 14-day quarantine on Wednesday and will join the rest of his teammates in Melbourne. Earlier this month, Rohit successfully cleared the fitness test at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru and was allowed to leave for Australia.
With Mayank failing in the first two games, Rohit’s inclusion in the squad would be a big boost for the visitors.
However, Gavaskar still feels the 29-year-old batsman should play in the next game despite his poor performance in Melbourne. According to the former India cricketer, Hanuma Vihari should be dropped for the Sydney Test.
While Mayank Agarwal has scored just 31 runs in four Test innings, Vihari has amassed 45 runs.
Speaking to Sony Sports Network, the 71 -year-old said, “I will have Mayank-Rohit opening, Gill in the middle order, and Vihari goes out for the third Test.”
Gavaskar also lauded stand-in skipper, Ajinkya Rahane, for his remarkable hundred in the first innings, saying the ton will go down as one of the most important centuries in the history of Indian cricket.
“I believe that Rahane’s hundred is going to be one of the most important hundreds in the history of Indian cricket.”