Murali Kartik bats for Mayank Agarwal playing the second Test

Murali Kartik bats for Mayank Agarwal playing the second Test: Kartik believes that the youngster should get an opportunity in Hyderabad.

With India literally demolishing the opposition in West Indies in the first of the two-match series, questions regarding India fielding a second string team in this series have already started to erupt.

In which was a sheer one-sided victory, India ended up registering their biggest Test win (by a margin of an innings and 72 runs). That fact that the match ended in less than three days speaks highly about India’s subjugation over West Indies.

Former India left-arm spinner Murali Kartik, who is currently doing a commentary stint during the telecast of the series, has expressed his opinion regarding the inclusion of uncapped opening batsman Mayank Agarwal in the playing eleven. Kartik even went on to say that the Indian team management can rest captain Virat Kohli to accommodate the 27-year old right-hand batsman.

Speaking during a post-match show on Star Sports, Kartik was quoted, “That [playing Agarwal] was something that I was thinking about. You should look at what you’re trying to get from this series. You’re looking for players for Australia. Did Virat Kohli have to play? You can possibly win this Test series without Virat Kohli. The way he was rested for Asia Cup.”

There is no hiding to the fact that Kartik had a point in what he said. Giving Agarwal an opportunity ahead of the Australia tour can prove out to be beneficial for both him and the team. That being said, whom will he replace in the team remains the big question. Had Lokesh Rahul scored runs in the first match, that would have been an option. India won’t look to rest Rahul in Hyderabad and take him to Australia with a duck in front of his name in his last match.

The second Test of the ongoing series will commence from October 12. Below are some of the recent Twitter reactions on Agarwal: