Australia vs India: Virender Sehwag wants Rohit Sharma in the playing XI for first Test

Former Indian batsman Virender Sehwag has advocated for Rohit Sharma to be included in the playing XI  for the Indian team in the Test series against Australia down under. The much awaited and the much-anticipated Test series gets underway from December 6th at the Adelaide Oval.

Virat Kohli’s men will also play the T20I and ODI series which will be played from November 21st with the first T20I to be played at the Gabba, Brisbane. With the Australian cricket team in tatters, missing two of their best batsmen in David Warner and Steve Smith, this will be the best chance for India to record their first victory in the Test series in the land down under.

In the hindsight, Virender Sehwag has stated that Rohit Sharma should be a certainty in the playing XI. The retired batsman feels that a batsman who has scored three double hundreds in One-day internationals shouldn’t be sitting out of Tests. In a chat with India TV,  Virender Sehwag was quoted as saying “Definitely Rohit Sharma should be part of the playing XI. A player who has scored three double hundreds in ODIs shouldn’t be sitting out of Tests. I have been repeating this for a long time now.”

Pace and bounce will be a huge factor in Australia

Sehwag was also asked to comment on the challenges that the Indian batsmen would have to be dealt with in the Australian tour, Sehwag mentioned that they would have to encounter the extra pace. He also stressed on the fact that it would be paramount to match the first-innings total to increase the chances of winning.

“In England, there is swing, in South Africa, there is seam movement, but in Australia, you only have to counter the extra bounce. If you can adjust to that, then you can score runs all day. Kohli showed this the last time by scoring four hundreds in four tests. It is also necessary in Australia for the Indian team to match the first innings total which will increase the visitors’ chances.”

Australia are currently playing against the Proteas in the ODI series after which they will play a one-off T20I. Indian team will play their third T20I on November 11th against the Windies after winning the T20 series. India have also won the Test and the One-day series comprehensively prior to this.

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