Indian captain Rohit Sharma has attracted a lot of criticism for his recent performances with the bat in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25. He has been failing with the bat for quite some time in this format but has been bitterly poor in Australia. He missed out on the first Test in Perth for the birth of his baby boy but made his comeback in the second Test in Adelaide.
He batted at number six in the second and third Tests and allowed KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal to open the innings. However, the Indian captain failed with the bat in both Test matches at number six and returned to open the innings with Jaiswal in the fourth Test in Melbourne. However, he got out for just three runs in the first innings and looked to be significantly out of touch.
So definitely, the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy is going to be the last Test series for Sharma and the selectors might move on from him or he might announce his retirement. Let us take a look at the players who can replace Sharma as opener in Test cricket.
3 players who can replace Rohit Sharma as opener in India’s Test XI:
1. KL Rahul
KL Rahul has batted in a number of positions on the Test team but has not received the stability that he deserves. Although his numbers don’t back up how technically solid the Karnataka batter is, he is definitely the best technically suited opener in SENA conditions.
He opened the innings for India in the first Test with Jaiswal in Sharma’s absence and stitched together a 201 runs partnership. Rahul has shown excellent technical posie to leave balls outside the off stump and blunt the new ball from one of the most potent bowling attacks in the world. Moreover, he was extremely solid on the tour of England as well and hence should be trusted as the opening partner with Jaiswal in the long run.
2. Abhimanyu Easwaran
Abhimanyu Easwaran has been impressive in the domestic circuit for a long time. He has amassed 7674 runs in 101 matches with an average of 48.87, which includes 27 centuries and 29 fifties.
Easwaran has shown the technique to bat at the top three and has been banging on the doors for a Test debut for quite a long time. He has the technique and temperament to be a solid opener for Team India.
3. Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill opens the innings for Team India in ODI cricket and also started his career as an opener in Test cricket. He was definitely considered the next big thing in Indian cricket.
However, he has been shifted to number three since India moved on from Cheteshwar Pujara after the WTC 2023 final. However, after the end of Sharma’s career, Gill can be brought back as the opener and partner with Jaiswal at the start of the Indian innings. He has played 31 Test matches and has scored 1860 runs at an average of 35.76 with five centuries and seven half-centuries.
