Team India are backing both KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal to fire at the top of the order and compensate for Rohit Sharma’s absence in the upcoming three-Test series in South Africa starting from December 26.
Rahul, who missed the home Tests versus New Zealand with a muscle strain on his left thigh, is set to make a comeback. Besides, he had done fairly well in his opening stand with Rohit during the England tour in August-September.
Mayank, on the other hand, has regained form with his 150 and 62 in the recent Mumbai Test, where India brushed the Black Caps aside by 372 runs to win the series 1-0.
Captain Virat Kohli did say that the team would miss Rohit’s abilities, but he also made clear his ample faith in the capabilities of both Rahul and Mayank.
“We’ll miss Rohit’s abilities a lot. He proved in England that he has really worked his Test game out and the opening partnership (between Rohit and Rahul) was was very important for us in that series.
“So obviously, with his experience and skill, we’ll miss his qualities. But having said that, I think it’s an opportunity for someone like Mayank and KL to step up and solidify that start for us, making sure the good work is carried on in this coming series as well,” Kohli said on Wednesday.
Ravindra Jadeja, out with a right forearm injury, would also be missed, Kohli added. But the skipper believes that wouldn’t be “a deciding factor” at all in the Tests against the Proteas.
“We do have quality in the side to be able to create the best combination possible and be in situations or positions to win Test matches. That’s because we have created that kind of bench strength and that kind of environment, where people who come in are seizing the opportunity and grabbing it with both hands and making sure that the team is helped by their performances,” Kohli emphasised.
Belief & experience
During the tour of South Africa back in early 2018, despite the Test series loss, India had prevailed in the third and final game at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, where conditions were really tough. That victory, according to Kohli, laid the foundation stone for India’s success thereafter in overseas Tests.
On this occasion, the captain believes, his team has gained further in terms of experience and confidence when it comes to correcting the wrongs and ensuring the mistakes aren’t repeated.
“Probably we left ourselves with a little too much to do at certain times where tough sessions have gone very bad. That’s something we have controlled really nicely in the recent past with more experience and guys understanding conditions and how to play in these conditions against which bowlers and how to pace their innings through the day so they can bat long.
“So I think we are very well placed in terms of experience, belief and confidence that this time around we can do something special and get the results that we want as a team,” Kohli explained.
