Following the test retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli has left India with a lot to consider before the forthcoming test series against England which beings on June 20. Since the team has been announced, much has been spoken and written about how India might play their first Test at Leeds.
Robin Uthappa, the former India opener, has asked head coach Gautam Gambhir to continue with Rahul as opener, together with Yashasvi Jaiswal. He was also the guarantee behind the inclusion of southpaw Sai Sudharsan, which forced captain Shubman Gill to bat at no. 4 and Karun Nair at five, respectively.
Robin Uthappa’s Statement
“For me, I want to start stronger right at the top, and I would want KL Rahul to open there. With the kind of success he has gotten there, with just the way he batted in Australia, and the way he has batted in the past in England augurs well for India to get him to open the batting,” Uthappa said on Star Sports.
“At No. 3, I would love to see someone like Sai Sudharsan because of how technically right he is, and the potential he possesses as what we feel and believe he can do and achieve in Test cricket. No. 4, Shubman Gill for sure. My No. 5 would be Karun Nair because you want a little bit of experience there,” he added.
“No. 6 – Rishabh Pant, I love him at No. 6. I think that’s his sweet spot. At No. 7, I will have Nitish Kumar Reddy because he is a proper fast-bowling all-rounder, your fourth fast-bowling option,” he explained.
“I will have Jadeja. Again, increased depth, scores runs, and has scored runs in England as well in Test cricket. So I will have him at No. 8,” he concluded.
Robin Uthappa’s India XI For India Vs England Test Series
KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, Karun Nair, Rishabh Pant, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
