Who should replace Prithvi Shaw in first Test: Post Shaw’s injury, India will be looking to find a suitable replacement.

Opening batsman Prithvi Shaw getting injured has deepened India’s selection conundrum regarding the opening combination for now they have a serious issue in front of them regarding whom will they send in to bat to face the new ball in the first Test from December 6 in Adelaide.

From the time Shaw has got injured, various reactions have been coming with respect to the alternatives India have. Talking of the social media, the notion of Rohit Sharma opening the batting has been doing the rounds since morning. As exciting and thrilling as it sounds, the decision has it in it to have its own ramifications.

Who should replace Prithvi Shaw in first Test

Not that India don’t have other options to open the batting in their 18-member squad. Some of them are listed below:

1) Murali Vijay – In which is the most sensible options at this point in time, Murali Vijay’s presence at the top of the order has it in it to assure India of experience and security, at least form one end. In the four matches which Vijay has played down under, he has scored 482 runs at an average of 60.25 and a strike rate of 53.25.

2) Parthiv Patel – Despite not being a regular, the 33-year old veteran wicket-keeper batsman has been playing Test cricket for the last 16 years. At the time of selecting Parthiv Patel in the squad, chief selector MSK Prasad had mentioned his capability to open the batting as one of the reasons for selecting him.

Patel had last opened the batting for India during their tour of South Africa earlier this year. In the five matches that he has opened, he has scored 265 runs at an average of 53 and a strike rate of 64.47. With a strong game square of the wicket, Patel can come in handy for India at the top of the order.

While it will be unfair on current wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant, Patel’s inclusion can present India with the option of handing him the wicket-keeping gloves and playing Rohit Sharma down the order.

3) Mayank Agarwal – Given that India already have an 18-member squad (including Shaw), there shouldn’t really be a need of calling a cover for Shaw for the point of taking an ensemble of players is to find a replacement during an injury-situation.

Despite that, if India feel the need to call for a cover, Mayank Agarwal won’t be a bad call. The 27-year old right-hand opening batsman was given a maiden call-up for the series against Windies. However, he was dropped from the squad against Australia without being given a chance. For someone who has piled up runs across conditions and formats, calling him can come good for India, especially if Shaw fails to recovers for the upcoming matches.

4) Shikhar Dhawan – The sole reason why Shikhar Dhawan should be picked ahead of anyone else is his current form in other formats. For someone who hasn’t done well in overseas Tests lately and is yet to play a First-class match since his debacle in England, playing him again will only be instinctive and based on any other reason. Some experts might also label the decision as a step in the backward direction.

Read some of the latest Twitter reactions on the same below: