Wasim Jaffer picks an ‘unusual’ Indian opener for 2nd Test against NZ

The first Test match between India and New Zealand has ended in a nail-biting draw at Kanpur. The two sides will now travel to Mumbai for the second and final red-ball game of the series.

India’s regular Test skipper Virat Kohli is also set to make a comeback at the Mumbai Test and lead the side. Meanwhile, former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer has suggested a few changes in the batting order for the next game. He stated that either Mayank Agarwal or Virat Kohli will make way for Kohli.

“It’s a toss-up between Mayank Agarwal and Ajinkya Rahane. I would think about those two. That’s the toss-up that Virat Kohli has to make. Whether he wants to go with Mayank Agarwal and give him another go or whether [he thinks] Ajinkya Rahane hasn’t got enough runs in the last 10-12 Test matches after that Melbourne Test so he goes out. It’s a tough call, definitely a tough call. It depends on whom the sword falls on,” said Wasim Jaffer in a chat with ESPNCricinfo.

Jaffer picks Wriddhiman Saha as an opener

The former batter suggested that the home team can go with Wriddhiman Saha alongside Shubman Gill as the two openers after dropping Agarwal from the playing XI. 

“I think I will open with Saha if at all Mayank Agarwal goes out because then everybody bats out of their position. Pujara will open and then Ajinkya Rahane will bat at some other position… If Saha opens then everyone bats at the same position.

And you can do that in Indian conditions with Saha. Is it a long-term call? Definitely not because India will go to South Africa. So, they’ll have to reconsider their top-six for Mumbai,” concluded Wasim Jaffer.

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