India vs Australia 2017: Rohit Sharma Hints Who Will Open The Innings In Shikhar Dhawan's Absence

Ahead of the much-awaited five-match One-Day International series against Australia, India have suffered a huge blow as their in-form opener Shikhar Dhawan will miss the first three games. The left-handed batsman has been given the permission by the BCCI to remain with his unwell wife.

Dhawan was in red-hot form with the bat before he left the series against Sri Lanka midway. The left-handed batsman made a comeback to the ODI team during the Champions Trophy and hit the ground running by finishing the tournament as the highest run-scorer. He also made an impressive return to the Test team as he was the highest run-scorer in the three-match series against Sri Lanka. After Tests, his impressive performance continued in the ODIs too where he slammed 132 not out and 49 which were followed by two rare failures before he returned to India to attend his mother.

The team management will now have to bring in a different player to open the innings and India vice-captain Rohit Sharma has indicated Ajinkya Rahane is likely to partner him at the top of the order. The

Rahane had opened the innings in all the five games against Windies and had finished the series as the highest-run scorer. However, the return of Rohit Sharma in the team for the Sri Lanka series saw him losing his place in the playing eleven again before Dhawan’s departure saw him opening the innings in the last ODI against the Islanders where he managed just 5.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s series-opener in Chennai, Rohit admitted Dhawan’s absence will be felt by the team before hinting that Rahane is likely to open the innings.

“Of course, Shikhar will be missed. The achievement we have had in the last few series, he had a big role to play. Right from the Champions Trophy till the last tour in Sri Lanka, he had very impact-full performances for the team. His absence will be felt but we have got few guys who can replace him. Ajinkya is one of them who has had a great series in West Indies. We have got a bench strength where a player can come and take a position any time. That’s why we have the policy going on,” Rohit said.

The India batting star also made it clear that the team management is seeing KL Rahul as the number 4 batsman in the team. Rahul opens the innings in Tests but was asked to bat at number 4 in the ODIs against Sri Lanka and although he failed miserably, he is likely to retain his place in the playing eleven for at least the first few games.

“Both captain and coach have clearly spoken about the roles each individual they want to play. Before the start of the Sri Lanka tour the captain said that he is looking KL as a number 4 batsman and Ajinkya has opened in West Indies. When you have this kind of versatility in the team, it gives captain and the coach a little bit of relief that these guys can take up any position they are offered,” Rohit said.

“I am sure whenever they will have an opportunity, wherever to bat, they will be happy to do it. Because that’s how it is. You have to actually play according to team dynamics whatever the team management requires,” he added.