Sunil Gavaskar reveals his take on the opening batsman debate of Team India

Team India decided to go with Shubman Gill as the opening partner for Rohit Sharma for the historic World Test Championship Final against New Zealand but he failed to impress enough across both innings. The focus of the side now shifts towards a five-match Test series against England.

Gill had a spectacular start to his international career in Australia and wowed everyone with his performances. However, the runs have dried up since then and with Mayank Agarwal knocking on the door, India’s opening batsman dilemma needs to be sorted.

Indian batting great Sunil Gavaskar seems to have come up with an answer. Gavaskar thinks India would be in a better position to evaluate the two by making them open together in practice matches. Whoever looks more confident and comfortable and manages to impress with technique, should be the number one choice against England.

“Make them open the innings together because Rohit Sharma is a certainty and he can be rested for a game. That would give you an idea who has the better technique for English conditions. And then based on that, they can make a decision whether they want to play Mayank Agarwal or Shubman Gill,” Gavaskar told Sports Tak.

Mayank Agarwal had amassed 857 runs for India during the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship and was the fourth-highest run-scorer for the side despite not playing a lot of matches towards the end. He was displaced by Gill in the lineup after failing to impress in three matches in Australia. Agarwal has three centuries to his name, which includes two double tons.

“Mayank Agarwal has done well as an opener, has hit double century twice. It’s good news that BCCI and especially Jay Shah has taken the initiative that India will play county matches. You can decide it there that who among Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal will open or India. Send both of them to open together, Rohit Sharma is a certainty and so he can be rested. The match will tell show has the better technique for English conditions,” Gavaskar further added.

Gavaskar further highlighted the weakness in Shubman Gill’s game and suggested that it’s an aspect of his game that he needs to work on in order to perform consistently.

“Gill has no footwork, he goes forward only. In India also he does not even try to go and play on the back foot and he plays across the line because of the same reason. Changing the balance while getting on the back foot because of the short length, it gets difficult. He will have to work hard, there is no doubt on his talent.”