Indian Former Legendary batsman, Sunil Gavaskar has spoken out over Team India’s batting lineup modifications in Test cricket. Considering the recently concluded 1st Test versus Sri Lanka in Mohali, India’s batting lineup assumed a new look, with prominent batsmen like Cheteshwar Pujara & Ajinkya Rahane facing exclusion from the Test team. Here is why Gavaskar Prefers Mayank Over Shubman.

After Hanuma Vihari stepped out to play at the no.3 spot, Shreyas Iyer took Rahane’s seat. However, the Indian Team has put many prominent players to warm up the bench and Shubman Gill was one among them who is on the bench throughout the match.

Unavailability of KL Rahul for this series, team officials had to pick among Gill and Mayank Agarwal to bat with captain Rohit Sharma. In the Test series versus South Africa previously in the year, Agarwal notably struggled. Gill, on the other side, has struck 52, 47, and 44 runs in his past 3 innings. As a consequence, many believed that the 22-year-old would’ve been afforded the opportunity, however, Agarwal was encouraged by the team’s management.

Mayank should undoubtedly open, he is a big scorer in the home series

“He (Gill) hasn’t played any form of cricket in the last two months. He did not even play Ranji Trophy so if you have to play for India, you need some or the other type of practice. Of course, he has the talent, there is no doubt about it. But in the end, it is also about form,” Gavaskar said.

The 31-year-old was offered an opportunity to bat, but he was removed after scoring 33 runs off 49 balls. Upon considering the batting order, Gavaskar applauded India’s choice to choose Agarwal ahead of Gill. The former also showered appreciation on Gill, regardless of the fact that he has not yet featured cricket for a few months.

“And if you see carefully, Mayank Agarwal always scores big in India’s home series. He bats like a boss in India but doesn’t score runs overseas. In the home series, he has at least one big hundred or a double century. So, he should definitely open,” he added.

Meanwhile, the batting legend also backed Vihari and Shreyas Iyer to continue in the batting order. “And at No. 3 there is Hanuma Vihari. What has he done wrong? In South Africa, in the one opportunity he got, he steadied the tail and batted defiantly, adding runs in India’s second innings. So he should get opportunities,” said the 72-year-old further.

Furthermore, on March 12, Team  India will face off Sri Lanka in the second and final Test in Bengaluru. It will be a historic event since it’ll be the 1st time the opposing teams meet in the tests.