If Rohit Sharma is fit, he should be slotted to open the innings: Sunil Gavaskar

India’s opening combination has become the talking point after the Adelaide Test. Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal both didn’t contribute much to the team’s cause. Shaw has come under the scanner a lot after his similar dismissals in the first Test and there are calls for him to be dropped for the second Test. The visitors are also missing Rohit Sharma who will be most likely available from the third Test in Sydney.

Before the start of the series, Rohit had stated that he was ready to bat at any position for the team given that Virat Kohli won’t be available to bat at four. However, Sunil Gavaskar is of the opinion that the 33-year-old should open the innings once he is available.

“He (Rohit) will definitely play. He is a better Test player than Mayank Agarwal and Prithvi Shaw. If he is fit then he will straightaway slot at the top of the order,” said Gavaskar while speaking on Channel 7.

Sunil Gavaskar opines on Prithvi Shaw’s flawed technique

Sunil Gavaskar also gave his opinion on Prithvi Shaw’s flawed technique and pointed out that there was a big gap between his bat and pad which led to him getting out bowled. “You can see he (Shaw) was pushing at the deliveries (in warm-ups), playing with hard hands and that has been his major problem,” said Gavaskar.

“Even in this Test, there was such a big gap between bat and pad. It was just the second delivery of the game (first innings dismissal). You want to make sure that you are playing with soft hands and as late as possible.” Elaborating on Prithvi’s chink in armour, the legend pointed out that the gap between bat and bad leads to the opening of a huge gate only for the ball to hit the wicket.

“The whole idea in Test match cricket is not to go there (take the bat far from the body) because then you are leaving a gap between bat and pad, allowing for late movement to get an inside edge or sneak between bat and pad. The trick is to play as close to the pad as possible… you can play shots later but at the start, you can’t leave the gap,” Sunil Gavaskar further said.