New Delhi: Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar believes that Team India will be able to successfully chase down targets they haven't achieved in the past if Rohit Sharma succeeds at the top of the order in Test cricket.
Rohit, who is a regular opener for Team India in the limited-overs format, has been included in the 15-man squad for the upcoming three-Test series against South Africa beginning October 2.
KL Rahul, who had been opening the innings for India in the last two years, has been dropped owing to his poor form. In the two-Test series against the West Indies, he managed scores of 44, 38, 13 and 6 and didn't seem to be in any sort of form.
His last 50+ score since his 149 against England at the Oval came some 12 innings back.
His poor form opened the opportunity for Rohit, who has been for long waiting for his chance to come good in red-ball cricket as well.
"At the moment, there is no place in the settled middle order in the Test team. Opening will be a new challenge for him, since he has rarely done it in the longer formats. But the advantage is that he will get to bat against a hard ball with plenty of gaps in the field. He will also not have to wait for his turn to bat, which will save his mental energy," Bangar said.