Ashish Nehra picks India's opening combination against Australia

Ahead of the highly-anticipated four-match Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, starting from December 17 in Adelaide, Indian management seems to be in dilemma regarding who should open the innings for the team. India is traveling with four opening batsmen namely Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul. In addition, Rohit Sharma would be joining the squad for the last two Tests.

It would be interesting to see which opening combination India goes ahead with. There is a strong possibility that India’s experienced opener in whites Mayank will get a chance against Australia as he looked in good form with the willow during the warm-up pink ball game against Australia A. However, the same can’t be said about Shaw as in the two practice games against Australia A, he registered scores of duck, 19, 40 and 3.

Youngster Shubman Gill, who is yet to make his debut in Tests also has decent numbers to his name as he smashed 43 and 65 in the pink-ball practice match in Sydney. Rahul, on the other hand, doesn’t have good Test records to his name but his red-hot form with the willow in the white-ball cricket can compel the management to give him another chance in Whites.

Ashish Nehra picks Mayank Agarwal as one of his openers

Detailing his opinion on India’s probable opening combination for Tests, former Indian pacer Ashish Nehra asserted that the opening slot is a major concern for India but if KL Rahul opens the innings, then the weakness can transform into a strength for the visiting nation. Nehra backed Rahul to score a lot of runs for the team considering the form he is in.

“There is question surrounding India’s opening pair, as to who will open with Mayank Agarwal. I wouldn’t exactly call it a weakness, but it surely is a concern at this point. You can look at Shubman Gill, or even Prithvi Shaw for that matter, but I believe it should be KL Rahul to open the batting for India. If he can score runs given the kind of form he is in, this weakness can transform into a strength for India. I would want him to play,” Nehra said in a video on Cricbuzz.

As the second opening batsman, Ashish Nehra backed Mayank Agarwal saying that he has done well for the team in the past and deserves to be in the Playing XI. Also, the combination of Rahul and Mayank at the top can do wonders for the team.

“Mayank Agarwal had played a couple of useful innings for India during the previous tour. With him KL Rahul makes a lot of sense. He hasn’t had the best of runs for India in Tests in the last year and a half. He’s been dropped too, but it’s an opportunity for Rahul,” Nehra concluded.