Former pacer Zaheer Khan believes Rohit Sharma will be comfortable opening the batting in Test cricket having done so in ODIs and T20Is for a while now. 

Rohit has been given an opportunity to open the innings during the upcoming home Test series against South Africa. The prodigious right-hander will have another chance to finally cement his place in the side. 

"Time will only tell but the decision which has been taken now is on the lines that you can’t keep a player like Rohit out of the team," Zaheer told The Indian Express. "It’s an opportunity for Rohit and also for the team to have such an in-form player."

Read Also: Sunil Gavaskar shares his two cents on Rohit Sharma’s elevation as a Test opener

Zaheer said from his conversations with him he could feel how desperate Rohit is to nail his spot in the Test team. "Of course, he is keen to play. When you look at the series which went by, including the England one, if Rohit had been there it could have made a difference. When you have someone like Rohit in the team, he deserves to be part in the playing eleven."

However, 40-year-old doesn't consider this as a make or break opportunity for Rohit in Tests. And also said it's understandable why the selectors and the management would open up a place at the top for a player as good as him. 

"No, I clearly don’t see this series as a make or break one for him. The team management needs to have clarity on whether you want a player or don’t want a player. There is no doubt Rohit will succeed."

"He is in the form of his life right now. So, it’s understandable that one wants to see him play more games right now."

"Rohit has faced different kind of challenges in Test cricket and he himself has put his hand up for opening the innings," Zaheer concluded.