Rohit Sharma's highly-anticipated outing as an opener in red-ball cricket didn't go as planned as the stylish right-hander failed to open his account while leading Board President's XI versus South Africa in Vizianagaram on Saturday (September 28).

In the last day of the three-day practice match, Rohit came out to open the innings with Mayank Agarwal after the visitors declared their first innings on 279/6. But India’s limited-overs vice-captain lasted just 2 balls and didn’t score a run as he was caught by Proteas wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen off Vernon Philander’s bowling.

This is certainly not the kind of start Rohit and the Indian fans wanted ahead of the three-match Test series, starting October 2 in Visakhapatnam.

For South Africa Tests, KL Rahul has been left out due to poor form. While the MSK Prasad-led selection panel has picked 20-year-old Shubman Gill in place of Rahul, they have entrusted Rohit for the opening role along with Agarwal.

"Yes, we are definitely looking (at Rohit) as an opener, and we want to give him an opportunity. He is keen, and all of us in the selection committee are keen too. We want to push him, and give him some opportunities up the order, and see where he stands, and then we will take a call. (Like other openers) he will get a fair run," chief selector MSK Prasad had said after announcing the squad on September 12.

"He has been opening in white-ball cricket for more than a decade. We feel he has the capability to bat up the order, we have seen that in white-ball cricket, and if he can do that in red-ball cricket, then nothing like it. We have a lot of practice matches coming up, which will be a boost to this side," he added.