Rohit Sharma Deserves To Be In The Playing XI If He Is In The Team, Says Zaheer Khan

Swashbuckling opener Rohit Sharma is likely to open alongside Mayank Agarwal in the upcoming Test series against South Africa starting from October 2. While there have been speculations over Rohit making a Test comeback ahead of young talents like Abhimanyu Easwaran and Priyank Panchal, former cricketer Zaheer Khan feels he deserves to be in the team.

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KL Rahul has failed to step up for India in the Tests which has opened the doors for Rohit. The Mumbai-born cricketer has been in swashbuckling form since the World Cup and will hope to keep up his excellent form in red-ball cricket.

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Rohit Sharma last played a Test match against Australia in December last year and his career has been a stop-start affair after failing to cement his spot. The 27 Tests veteran; however, will wish to make the most out of this opportunity and cement his place.

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His long-time teammate Zaheer Khan also backed Rohit to be in the playing XI. The former fast bowler said that it is difficult to keep a player of Rohit Sharma’s stature out of the team despite young talents knocking the door.

“The decision which has been taken now is on the lines that you can’t keep a player like Rohit out of the team. It’s an opportunity for Rohit and also for the team to have such an in-form player,” Zaheer said.

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The left-arm fast bowler, who has played alongside Rohit Sharma in Mumbai Indians and Mumbai Ranji sides, revealed that he had a chat the right-hand batsman. Zaheer Khan said that Rohit is keen to go out there and play and score runs for his team.

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“Of course, he is keen to play. When you look at the series which went by, including the England one, if Rohit had been there it could have made a difference. When you have someone like Rohit in the team, he deserves to be part in the playing eleven,” he concluded.

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