Sourav Ganguly backs Rohit Sharma to grab India's Test opener role

Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly has backed Rohit Sharma to take over the Test opener's role for India.

Before Team Indies's series against West Indies, Sourav suggested Rohit should be tried as the opener of the Test side but the ODI vice-captain was left out from the side during in both the Test matches. 

According to Sourav, KL Rahul's poor form for India in both the matches can push the management to give Rohit Sharma a chance as the opener alongside Mayank Agarwal.

"I had suggested earlier about trying Rohit Sharma as an opener in Test cricket and I still believe that he needs to be given an opportunity because he is too good a player to be left out in the cold," Sourav Ganguly wrote in his column for TOI. 

"After a fantastic World Cup, I believe he will be itching to grab the opportunity to open in Tests. With Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari settling in nicely, there is not much left to play around in the middle order."

'The Hitman' has 27 Tests caps under his belt for India but has not failed to secure a spot in the Test XI.

When picked for the playing squad, Rohit has batted at number 3 and has never opened for India in Tests.

Even though Rohit's average is over 50 while batting at number 6 but Ganguly believes that the middle-order needs no fixing after Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari's match-winning performances in the West Indies Tests.

Rohit Sharma was in sublime form for India during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, hitting a record five centuries and ending the tournament with 648 runs in just 9 matches.