Virender Sehwag has said that Virender Sehwag should open in Tests. (Photo credits: PTI/AP)

Former Indian batsman Virender Sehwag has batted for the inclusion of the Rohit Sharma in the Test squad as an opener. Indian openers haven’t been able to do well in the series against England so far, which has been the major cause of concern for India on overseas tours. In Asian conditions, they are unstoppable but at the overseas tours, the opening batsmen have failed to come up with performances.

(Shikhar Dhawan has struggled for runs in England Test series. Photo credits: AP)

Since his debut, Shikhar Dhawan has always been dropped from playing XI at least once in Test series outside Asia. Murali Vijay recently got dropped from the squad while KL Rahul could be seen warming the bench during the fifth Test against England. Opening pair has been the bone of contention for India and giving a solution to this, Sehwag has said that Rohit deserves a chance in the longest format of the game.

As per Viru, Prithvi Shaw, the third opener who is presently a part of the Test squad in England, can remain as the third opener after Rohit. “Prithvi Shaw might get a chance in the fifth Test. But I believe, Rohit deserves a chance before the young chap. India can try Rohit first and then call up Prithvi if he fails to deliver. They can keep Prithvi Shaw in the squad as a third opener. In that way, he'll get to learn a lot in the presence of senior players,” he told IndiaTV.

(Rohit Sharma was dropped from the Test team in the month of June. Photo credits: AP)

Rohit has played 25 Tests till now in which he has scored 1479 runs at an average of 39.97. He started off his Test career on a bright note – scoring two consecutive centuries against West Indies. In next 23 Tests, he has just managed just one more ton.

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Rohit got dropped from the Test team for the Afghanistan Test in the month of June and also failed to make it to the squad for England tour. Considering that the selectors didn’t include him in India A or any of Duleep Trophy squads, there are indications they might have moved ahead of him.

The 31-year-old batsman will have to come up with performances in Ranji Trophy so as to be back in the reckoning. For now, it is Shaw who is expected to retain his place for the home Test series against West Indies as the third opener.