Shastri confirms India's opening pair, hints changes in middle order

With the rains finally arriving to give respite from a month-long heatwave in Birmingham, the only thing left on people’s imagination is India’s opening pair for the first Test match. Late on Sunday night, even that debate was put to rest by India head coach Ravi Shastri after he gave clear indications that Shikhar Dhawan will partner Murali Vijay despite the former getting a pair in India’s only practice match ahead of the five-match Test series.

With the rains finally arriving to give respite from a month-long heatwave in Birmingham, the only thing left on people’s imagination is India’s opening pair for the first Test match. Late on Sunday night, even that debate was put to rest by India head coach Ravi Shastri after he gave clear indications that Shikhar Dhawan will partner Murali Vijay despite the former getting a pair in India’s only practice match ahead of the five-match Test series.

KL Rahul, on the other hand, was officially termed the third opener and will have to wait for his chances as the tour progresses. “Rahul has been picked as the third opener,” Shastri told ESPNCricinfo drawing curtains on the openers’ debate.

Considering Dhawan and Vijay’s performance – both got flawless hundreds with Dhawan becoming the first India to score a ton in the first session of Day 1- in India’s last Test match against Afghanistan, there should not have been a hint of doubt about India’s first choice opening pair. In reality, there was plenty.

In the last 7 Test matches, only once have India fielded the same opening pair in successive games with Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul playing musical chairs. A certain Parthiv Patel was also thrown in the mix in the third Test at South Africa with Rahul dropping at three.

Then there comes the overseas factor, leaving Dhawan, the highest scorer in recent times among the three openers, at a disadvantageous position. More than Rahul’s form, it has been Dhawan’s lack of assurance in overseas conditions that have brought about the frequent change at the top. Murali Vijay has been constant when fit.

To be fair to the Indian team management, it has remained largely unaffected by the ‘Rahul being a better choice than Dhawan’ chorus, which grows into an avalanche whenever India embarks on an overseas tour. Dhawan has always been the preferred choice at least for the initial stages of the series mainly due to his record (an average of 61) in subcontinent.

But isn’t it unfair on Rahul, who has been in red-hot form across formats? It is to a certain extent. But Shastri indicated that they might opt for the limited overs formula of fitting Rahul in the middle order.

“Our batting order will always be flexible. The third opener can play anywhere in the top four. We are a very, very flexible outfit. Be prepared for that. We will surprise you guys at times," he said.

It sure will be a surprise if Rahul starts at no. 3 in place of Cheteshwar Pujara, considering that Kohli’s No.4 will not be tinkered with and Rahane is an automatic choice at no. 5, leaving only the top-order for Rahul to be squeezed into.

The pressure will be on both Dhawan and Pujara to keep Rahul at bay and hold on to their positions in the latter half of the series.

Shastri however, had some encouraging words for Pujara. "It (Pujara’s lack of form) is not a concern for me at all. He (Pujara) has a role to play. He knows his role because No. 3 is an important role," Shastri said.

"He's an extremely experienced player. I feel he is one inning away (from a big score). He needs to spend time at the crease. If he gets one 60-70 under his belt, he will be a different player altogether. My job is to make sure he is thinking in that fashion.”