If Mayank Agarwal is fit again, he should make his way to the top of the line-up for the Lord’s Test, even if it means moving an in-form KL Rahul down to displace a struggling Ajinkya Rahane, writes Aadya Sharma.
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Before Mayank Agarwal was floored by a bouncer in the nets, and concussion made him unavailable, he looked set to play his maiden Test in England. With Shubman Gill out with injury, and Prithvi Shaw having fallen a few spots in the pecking order, Mayank’s path to re-enter the Test XI had become considerably easier. The only threat was the emergence of KL Rahul as a contender: Mayank’s long-time teammate had made a resounding statement with a century in the warm-up game.
When news of the blow to Mayank’s head came about, a day ahead of the series opener, India had to make quick adjustments. They bolstered their batting by adding Shardul Thakur down the order and drafted KL Rahul at the top. With KL being an established opener, pushing him up to fill the void at the top made complete sense.
However, it won’t be as straightforward when Mayank is recovered. His form, of late, was worrying, but he made all the right noises leading into the series to rightfully claim his place at the top.
KL Rahul stepped in and did his job admirably – it almost didn’t feel like he was playing his first Test in two years. There was an added sense of responsibility to his game too, as he thwarted the English challenge even as his fellow batsmen stumbled and fell, one after another.
The manner of India’s batting capitulation is worrying, even if the blow was softened by crucial late-order contributions. However, it’s apparent that India’s batting problems (that surfaced during the World Test Championship final) are far from solved, and it’s better if they are addressed early, than at a point in the series where the scoreline cannot afford a comeback.
The shape of India’s top order is closely linked to the composition of its middle order. If Mayank is fit and ready to go, it gives the team more options to explore in the middle, especially with Shardul Thakur’s expected absence from the second Test. KL Rahul looked in good touch in the tour game, but his century came from a non-opening spot. And isn’t just the score against a county attack that mattered: KL has always been a versatile batsman who can adjust based on the needs of the team, and still have enough flexibility to continue to play his natural game.
Maybe, before Mayank hobbled out, India was looking to draft Rahul in the middle order itself. It’s also where India’s next biggest problem lies: the wavering form of Ajinkya Rahane, which is now entering into worrisome category, with only one fifty-plus score away from home in 15 innings since the start of 2020. India is in dire need of runs from him, and the temptation to force a change might just be reaching its limit. It could work both ways really – India could get a chance to revitalise their middle order, and a break for Rahane, struggling for runs, could give him the right kick to return with vigour.
For many, moving Rahul out of position days after he scored a fluent 84 would not make much sense, but if an in-form batsman can solve a long-standing problem in the middle, there could be more benefits to it than immediately evident. Mayank carries the skill and temperament of a solid Test opener and looked in fine nick during the tour game as well, dealing with both pace and spin with equal ease. Further, his playing style could take the pressure off Rohit, with the assurance of Mayank’s firm presence at the other end. As a bonus, it could help Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli, themselves fighting for the big score, to play with more freedom, knowing that KL Rahul follows them, providing more teeth to the lower order.
It makes a solid combination: Rohit, the current highest-ranked Test opener, combining with Mayank, a specialist opener with two double-hundreds in his first eight Tests, followed by a rock-solid No.3 and the skipper at four. It’s a top four that can really test England’s attack on its day, and it only gets better if there’s Rahul’s fluency following them at five.
It all depends on Mayank’s fitness though, and he might just be rested further for precautions, but if he is ready to take the field, it should be him padding up next to Rohit Sharma.
