Published 15:01 IST, August 29th 2019
Rohit Sharma has to wait for Test opportunity, feels Gautam Gambhir
Rohit Sharma has to wait for a spot in the Indian Test eleven with Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari justifying their selection said former opener Gautam Gambhir
Rohit Sharma has to wait for a spot in the Indian Test eleven with Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari justifying their selection, said former opener Gautam Gambhir on Thursday. ODI vice-captain Rohit Sharma has been in sublime form of late and is part of the Test squad touring the West Indies. He was not picked for the first Test with Ajinkya Rahane and Vihari doing well in the series opener, it is unlikely he will feature in the second and final Test. An under pressure Rahane scored a timely 81 and 102, his first hundred in two years while Vihari made 32 and 93 as India romped to a 318-run victory.
Gautam Gambhir says Rohit Sharma must wait for opportunity
"He (Rohit Sharma) has got to wait for his opportunity. There is Rahane, who has done well now and Vihari too. So he has to wait and when gets that opportunity, he needs to perform," Gambhir told PTI. "I am not at all surprised (with Rahane's performance) but it was a much-needed performance, both from individual and team's point of view. And when it comes in a winning cause, it doesn't get better than that," said Gautam Gambhir, who played 58 Tests and 147 ODIs for India.
More cricketers voice for Saha to get an opportunity
Rishabh Pant is now India's first-choice wicketkeeper across formats, getting ahead of Test specialist Wriddhiman Saha, who is back in the squad after a long injury lay-off. Saha was the number one choice at the time of his injury. Gautam Gambhir feels Saha too has to wait for his opportunity. "When someone (Pant) is averaging 48 (45.43 actually) with the bat and scored a hundred each in England and Australia, he deserves to be playing Test cricket. Saha needs to wait for his opportunity as Pant has grabbed his opportunity with both hands," Gambhir added.
A couple of days back. former India wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani had said that Saha should be given an opportunity instead of Pant. Syed Kirmani, who played 88 Tests for India, feels that Wriddhiman Saha was injured and he deserves equal opportunity just like the burly Delhi keeper. "Yeh abhi jhule main hai (He is still in his infancy). But he is God gifted but needs to learn a lot," Syed Kirmani told PTI on the sidelines of the launch of six outlets of Hearing Solutions. "It's the most difficult position on the field. Not everyone can do keeping by just wearing a pair of gloves," said the member of the 1983 World Cup-winning side. Rishabh Pant had drawn some flak after he played a couple of loose shots that saw him throw his wicket away during the ODI and T20 series against West Indies.
Updated 15:46 IST, August 29th 2019