Shubman Gill And Rohit Sharma Could Be A Permanent Opening Pair For India In Test Cricket: Sunil Gavaskar

Former India captain, Sunil Gavaskar feels that the Indian team has found its long-term opening pair in Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Gavaskar’s comments came after Rohit and Gill staged opening partnerships of 70 and 71 runs in the ongoing Sydney Test against Australia.

The right-handed duo also became only the third Asian opening pair to make a 50+ runs partnership in both the innings of a Test in Australia. Gill registered his maiden Test fifty in the first innings, while Rohit also made his half-century on return.

The current opening pair is the third one in as many Tests in the Border-Gavaskar series, after that of Prithvi Shaw-Mayank Agarwal, and Shubman Gill-Mayank Agarwal.

“What is important in an opening partnership is the partners should be made for each other. Sometimes you have one who is a very attacking player and one is solid. But here both have a very good defense, they both have fabulous shots,” Sunil Gavaskar told Sony Sports Networks.

These two could be the opener pair to stick with: Sunil Gavaskar

Chasing a massive target of 407 – or looking for a draw – Rohit Sharma, who is returning to international cricket and hasn’t played Test cricket since November 2019, shut down the critics who have questioned his ability in overseas Tests cricket.

The opener made a patient half-century but got dismissed, unfortunately, playing his famous pull shot as he hit a Pat Cummins short delivery straight to Mitchell Starc at fine leg. Before Rohit’s wicket, half-centurion in the first innings, Gill was dismissed by a jaffa from Josh Hazlewood for 31.

Sunil Gavaskar is impressed by the duo. He opined that the Mumbai Indians captain showed great maturity playing on a track which was assisting off-spinner, Nathan Lyon. The 1983 World Cup winner believes that the pair of Rohit and Gill will serve India well for the next few years.

“Shubman Gill has been impressive. We all know how good a player Rohit Sharma is. He was also getting behind the line and played the ball very late, that was very, very impressive.

“On a fourth day pitch when the ball was turning just that little bit, the way they negotiated Nathan Lyon was also impressive. Yes, on the back of what we have seen, these two could be the opener pair to stick with,” Sunil Gavaskar added.

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