Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman said that opener Shubman Gill is looking in a good rhythm and should open the innings alongside Rohit Sharma in the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand.
The excitement is building up for the final of ICC World Test Championship (WTC), which is set to be played between India and New Zealand at Rose Bowl, Southampton between 18th and 22nd June, with 23rd, being a reserve day.
Team India is gearing up for the much-anticipated clash as they played the intra-squad match and are having multiple net seasons.
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With only two days remaining for the WTC final, it would be interesting to see what opening combination Team India would go ahead with. Some feel Mayank Agarwal should open alongside Rohit Sharma while some say Shubman Gill should be retained as the first-choice opener alongside the Sharma.
During the virtual press conference, former Indian batsman VVS Laxman said that Shubman Gill should open alongside Rohit Sharma in the WTC final as he is talented and is capable of performing under pressure. He added that the young batsman is in good rhythm as he scored an 80-plus score in the intra-squad match.
“Well, I would like continuity. I think Shubman Gill is a wonderful talent, he has shown what he is capable of doing under pressure.
"So, I would back Shubman Gill and also in the intra-squad match, he scored an 80-plus score, so that means he is in good rhythm, his rhythm is untouched here, so I would still back Shubman Gill to open with Rohit Sharma,” VVSLaxman said in a virtual press conference organized by official broadcasters, Star Sports.
Laxman pointed out that India is fortunate to have the third opener in Mayank Agarwal but at the moment Shubman Gill should be given chance ahead of him.
"India is fortunate to have Mayank Agarwal again on the bench, who also has done well in Test-match cricket, but at the moment, I would back Shubman Gill to open with Rohit in this Test match," he said.
Laxman feels that Team India is the favorite to win because they over the two-year cycles of WTC have been the most consistent sides, winning both at home as well as in overseas conditions. He recalled how Team India in the absence of Virat Kohli and a plethora of injuries in the side managed to beat Australia in Australia.
"I feel that India start as favorites, the reason being if there is one team over the past two years of this cycle of World Test Championship, who is being consistent, who has won both at home and overseas, it is been India.
"Beating Australia in Australia in-spite of a humiliating defeat in the first Test and they lost captain (Virat Kohli), the main captain not being available for rest of the series, a lot of injuries to the senior players but still going on to beat Australia in that fashion and there is so much of depth, talent, and experience in this Indian line-up, whether it is the batting department or bowling department,” he said.
Laxman feels that it would be an evenly matched contest. He added that New Zealand's performance against England may motivate India because the Virat Kohli-led side is capable of overcoming whatever challenge they face.
"While it will be evenly matched, there is no doubt about that contest, because New Zealand have got an advantage of already playing England in these conditions but I think India can take a leaf out of what New Zealand have done.
"I think this Indian side is capable of overcoming whatever challenges they will confront and backing their experience and talent to beat New Zealand,” he said.
Talking about Rohit Sharma, VVS Laxman said that if the veteran opener can replicate the same discipline he showed in the series against South Africa he can perform well. He pointed out that the opener needs to focus on his off-stump.
"For any opener, it's very important to know where your off-stump is, and Rohit since the time he's opened for the Indian team the way he played against South Africa, he knew where his off-stump was, very disciplined at the start of the innings. And if that's something Rohit can replicate in England I'm sure that he can perform well.
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“He's a match-winner for the team. But knowing where your off-stump is and letting go of the balls outside off-stump is something which Rohit requires to focus on.
VVS Laxman further said that facing Trent Boult would be a challenge for Rohit Sharma as he needs to play with the full face of bat towards the bowler or umpire.
“He's got another challenge in the form of Trent Boult who gets the ball in. He also knows that against Boult you cannot take his left leg across. he has to play as much as possible with the full face bat towards the bowler or umpire,” he concluded.
(PTI inputs)
