4 players who can be the long-term solution to India's opening woes in Test matches

Many congratulations to Team India for winning the highly-anticipated four-match Test series (2-1) on Australian soil. It was a complete team effort that made sure this historic victory under skipper, Virat Kohli. Though almost every player made a mark, India's opening woes were at the peak in the first two Tests.

Both KL Rahul and Murali Vijay failed to grab the opportunities they got to prove themselves in the whites. While Vijay was dropped after the second Test having scored just 49 runs in four innings, Rahul got another golden chance at Sydney to prove his worth with the bat. But, the Karnataka batsman scored just nine runs before returning back to the pavilion in the second over.

At 34, Vijay's comeback into the Indian squad looks highly unlikely given his recent failures. Meanwhile, Rahul is likely to feature in the domestic games to regain his touch and confidence before making the Indian Test XI once again. A strong foundation at the top of the order has certainly been the reason behind India's huge first innings totals in the recently concluded Boxing Day and New Year's Test.

To continue this trend, they must have good opening options. With India's ICC World Test Championship campaign set to kick-off just after the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, let us look at four players who can be the long-term solutions to India's opening woes.

---

1) Mayank Agarwal

Mayank Agarwal

Mayank's name has been on the Test radar for quite a long time. Though he got his much-deserved call-up during the Tests against the West Indies last month, he was unfortunate to be left out of the playing XI in both the Test matches. The Karnataka batsman dominated the 2017-18 Indian domestic season, piling on 2141 runs including an exceptional triple-century. His contributions for the India A side has been equally good in the past few years.

During three-match unofficial Tests against New Zealand A (played only the first two games), the opener made 42, 65 and 42 in the tough, windy conditions. Earlier, in the two unofficial Test series at home against South Africa A (two matches) and Australia A (one match), he amassed 375 runs that include a masterful 220 against the Proteas A side at Bengaluru. Though he was initially left out of the Indian squad for the Test series against Australia, he was later drafted in as a replacement for the injured teenager, Prithvi Shaw for the last two Test matches.

The 27-year-old made his much-awaited debut at the MCG during the Boxing Day Test match, scoring a sublime 76 (most by an Indian on debut Test innings in Australia) followed by a gritty 42 in the second innings. Mayank recorded another half-century during the rain-marred Sydney Test (77 off 112 balls) providing the much-needed start to India's first innings. In his three Test innings so far, Mayank has shown immense determination and has been regarded as the perfect opening option for Team India in the future.

2) Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan

Dhawan excelled with the willow in the limited-overs series against Australia (T20Is) and West Indies (T20Is and ODIs) contributing heavily at the top for Team India. Gabbar, who last played a Test match against England at the Oval last year was excluded from the Indian Test squad for the four-match Test series against Australia.

Out-of-form openers, KL Rahul and Murali Vijay were given an opportunity to prove themselves but they let that go managing just 48 and 49 runs (in four innings) respectively.

Dhawan, who scored a magnificent 187 off 174 balls on his debut innings against Australia back in 2013 has so far amassed 2315 runs in 34 Test matches at an average of 40.61. The southpaw is someone who can provide quick runs at the top thereby laying a perfect platform for the strong Indian middle-order to takeover and undoubtedly deserves a comeback to the Indian Test squad.

3) Prithvi Shaw

Prithvi Shaw

2018 couldn't have been any better for the young prodigy who led the Indian colts to the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup title in February. Shaw followed it up with an eventful debut season in the IPL scoring 245 runs in 9 matches this season at a strike-rate of 153.12. With tons of domestic runs under his belt, he received his maiden call-up to the Indian Test squad for the last two Tests of the five-match series. Though he did not make the XI, he was once again called to Indian Test side for the two-match Test series against the visiting West Indies in October.

The Mumbaikar made his Test debut at Rajkot in the first Test and went on to finish the series with 237 runs in three innings and was adjudged the Man-of-the-series for his exploits with the bat in his debut Test series. Shaw averaged 118.50 with his highest score being 134. This prompted the selectors to name him in the Indian squad for the four-match away Test series against Australia. Unfortunately, he sustained an ankle injury during India's one-off practice game against the Cricket Australia XI was ruled out of the entire four-match series after failing to recover completely. Nevertheless, the teenager is sure to make the XI once he is fully fit!

4) Priyank Panchal

Priyank Panchal

Priyank has been a consistent performer with the bat in the Indian domestic circuit for quite some time. His tally of 1310 runs in 10 matches at an average of 87.33 during the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy made sure that he finished that season as the highest run-getter. Having made his first-class debut a decade ago against Saurashtra, the Gujarat batsman has so far represented his side in 76 First-class games scoring 5462 runs with his highest score being 314*.

The 28-year-old, who amassed 542 runs in seven games during the last Ranji Trophy edition has been unstoppable with the willow this season. Currently, he is the third highest run-getter at the 2018-19 Ranji season with 887 runs in eight matches at an average of 68.23. He has so far amassed five half-centuries and four centuries, with his highest score being 141. Given his batting credentials and experience in the domestic circuit, Priyank deserves a call-up to the Indian squad.