Rohit Sharma looks likely to make his comeback in the playing XI in the longest format of the game after almost a year. As per a report in Times of India, he and R Ashwin were two players who attended the optional practice session on Monday ahead of the first Test. This could very well see him getting an edge over Hanuma Vihari for the middle-order spot. Both Vihari and Rohit played the practice game but the former wasn’t in the optional practice session.
Rohit’s last Test appearance came against South Africa in Centurion. For the first two Tests of the series, he was preferred over vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane for a place in the playing XI but he could just score 78 runs in four innings, which saw being dropped for the final Test.
Both he and Vihari are contenders for a place in the playing XI but one thing that keeps Vihari ahead of the limited-overs skipper is his bowling skills. Making his debut in the fifth Test against England, Vihari not only scored a half-century but also scalped three wickets. He dismissed centurions Joe Root and Alastair Cook on successive deliveries.
The first Test of the series between India and Australia starts on December 6 and the choice between Vihari and Rohit will be difficult for Indian skipper Virat Kohli. However, only one of these two will play if all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is made to bat at number 7.
