It will be a toss-up between Mayank Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari if Rohit Sharma has to make way: MSK Prasad

India’s star batsman Rohit Sharma is back to the Indian squad and is expected to play the 3rd Test with India in Sydney. Rohit came to Australia earlier only but was undergoing his mandatory quarantine period before joining the squad. He didn’t fly to Australia with his teammates and went to NCA Bangalore to address his fitness issues. Reports stated that if he is found in the best of fitness, he would feature in India’s next Test against Kangaroos.

In the same light, former chief selector MSK Prasad feels that if Rohit’s place has to be created in the team, either Hanuma Vihari or Mayank Agarwal has to be dropped. Since Shubman Gill has impressed big time in his debut at the opening position, he won’t be questioned for the next Test.

In the same manner, Mayank Agarwal might have to lose his opening spot for Rohit. However, it is still not sure if Rohit would like to ply his trade as an opener in Test after so long. If he pitches in as middle-order batsmen, the team will have to be drop Vihari.

“It will be a toss-up between Mayank and Vihari. Dropping Mayank will be a tough call since he has scored hundreds and double hundreds over the last 18 months. I am still not sure about Rohit opening because he is coming after a long break. Will he prefer to open or bat in the middle order? That is another question,” said Prasad as quoted by Times Now.

It will be seen what kind of role the management is expecting from Rohit Sharma: Prasad

“And what kind of role the team management is expecting from Rohit. That is also a factor. Whether they want Rohit to give the team a flying start or anchor the innings in the middle?” he added.

Both Agarwal and Vihari have not been able to impress in the last two Tests. It looks that any one of them can be replaced with Sharma easily. While Agarwal bagged only 35 runs in the last two Tests, Vihari had 45 runs in his account. India has leveled the series 1-1 after a brilliant show at MCG.