Ashish Nehra picks India’s opening combination for the Australia Test series

India are spoilt for choice when it comes to picking an opening pair for the upcoming Test series against Australia and it has put the selectors in a bit of a dilemma. Apart from Rohit Sharma’s slated to return for the third and fourth Tests, India have KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill to choose from as their top two batsmen for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting December 17. 

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For the first two Tests, the contest is primarily between Mayank and the two youngsters, Gill and Shaw. And former Indian pacer Ashish Nehra has had his say on who should face the formidable Australian fast bowlers on the onset of the first two Tests.

Nehra, who represented India in 17 Tests, said the selectors should go with Rahul and Agarwal as the opening pair. 

“There is question surrounding India’s opening pair, as to who will open with Mayank Agarwal. I believe it should be KL Rahul to open the batting for India. If he can score runs given the kind of form he is in, this weakness can transform into a strength for India. I would want him to play,” Nehra was quoted saying in a video on Cricbuzz. 

Nehra highlighted Mayank’s form in Australia from the series in 2018, where the Karnataka batsman scored 76 and 42 in the third Test in Melbourne, before scoring 77 in the final Test in Sydney as India went on to secure their first-ever Test series win in Australia. 

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Meanwhile, Rahul has had a stuttering run in red-ball cricket, but his form in the limited-overs format has been exceptional over the last 18 months and Nehra believes opening with the Karnataka pair is the best combination for India. 

“Mayank Agarwal had played a couple of useful innings for India during the previous tour. With him KL Rahul makes a lot of sense. He hasn’t had the best of runs for India in Tests in the last year and a half. He’s been dropped too, but it’s an opportunity for Rahul,” he said.