Rohit Sharma underperforms yet again, out for mere 18 runs in practice match

New Delhi: The right-handed batsman Rohit Sharma has already raised too many eyebrows for his selection in the Indian squad in the home series against New Zealand.

There has been a healthy debate wheather to keep Rohit in the team or bring back the former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir in his place.

Currently, New Zealand team is playing a 3 day-practise match against Mumbai at Delhi.

Rohit is the that squad and has been dissmissed for mere 18 runs in 40 balls with a six and a four to his name. The Mumbaikar has not scored enough runs in Tests but still has found a place in 15-man squad.

As quoted by ESPN Cricinfo, here's what chief selector Sandeep Patil said on decision to not dump Rohit Sharma.

"Rohit is a fabulous player, immense talent he has got, but he hasn't got a longer run in Test cricket," chairman of selectors Sandeep Patil said after the selection meeting in Mumbai. "What we have seen with Rohit Sharma is, he has been picked for one Test and then rested an entire season and again picked. So the selection committee, along with coach and captain, have decided that whoever is be picked will be given a fair amount of chances."

On the contrary Gambhir was leading India Blue at Duleep Trophy. The left-hander had a great outing with 320 runs (in three matches with four fifties) at an average of 80 per innings.

The stats give the idea as to who should have been picked in the Test squad, but nothing can be taken away from Rohit who has shown immense talent in the limited-over format. Maybe, he will find his mojo in Tests too if given a long run.

Though the talks for the openers has been the main concern for the team. Shikhar Dhawan has not been in very healthy form off late, though he is retained in the squad like Rohit.

India have two specialist openers for the tour, Murli Vijay and KL Rahul. If  Dhawan is to be included in the playing 11, then there will be a tough task for Virat to decide between the three.

The first match of the series against Kiws will be played at Kanpur from Thursday.