Australia vs India 3rd Test: 4 Best possible opening pairs for India

The main cause of worry for the Indian team are their openers. Both KL Rahul and Murali Vijay have failed miserably in the opening two Test matches. In the first game, it didn't matter much as Indians won the game and the form of the openers was not highlighted much.

But in the 2nd Test, the performance of the top order made a difference for the respective teams as Australia cruised to a convincing win over the visitors. While Murali Vijay looked much better in the 2nd innings of the Perth Test, KL Rahul hs looked out of sorts for the most part of the series.

Prithvi Shaw could have been the ideal option to replace one of the struggling openers but he too is ruled out the series with an ankle injury and the team management was forced to call up Mayank Agarwal for the remainder of the series. So with all being said, we will look at best possible combinations to replace the duo of Murali Vijay and KL Rahul at the top.

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#4 Murali Vijay and Mayank Agarwal

He deserves a chance

While this may come in as a surprise but Murali Vijay with his experience can warrant one more Test match and partner the newcomer Mayank Agrawal in the 3rd Test match.

While it's almost certain that Mayank Agarwal will be making his debut with his addition to the squad ahead of the 3rd Test match. He has waited for his opportunity for a long time and this will be a perfect instance to prove why he is rated so highly in the Indian domestic circuit.

Vijay's presence will help the youngster in calming his nerves in facing a potent bowling attack such as Australia's. This might be a fresh change to the top of the order.

#3 Mayank Agarwal and Rohit Sharma

Can Rohit the opener be given a go?

This combination can work wonders for India as both of them are natural stroke-makers with the bat in hand and can take the game to the opposition. They can form a destructive opening partnership that India is lacking since the departure of the Sehwag and Gambhir duo.

We all know what Rohit Sharma is capable of in the limited overs cricket, where he is currently one of the best in the world and this could be a change that Rohit requires to excel at the Test level. He is fairly capable of decimating any bowling attack. Virat Kohli and the team management can take a risk by sending Rohit to open the batting along with Mayank Agarwal.

They both can dominate the bowling attack with their attacking instincts right from the start and help the middle order in putting up a good total.

#2 Parthiv Patel and Mayank Agarwal

Will a get a well-deserved chance?

It is hard to believe that Parthiv Patel- the senior most member of the squad currently in Australia has played only 25 Test matches for the country so far. He has not been given a longer rope, and one can say that he is a tad unlucky being a reserve wicketkeeper for the likes of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Wriddhiman Saha, and now to Rishabh Pant.

Parthiv can be given a nod to open the innings along with Mayank Agarwal. He has a good amount of experience behind and he has the capability to dominate any bowling attack once he gets set. He has been in good form as of late and India can indeed use his experience at the top.

The left and the right-hand combination can make a massive impact in the game and this can be an interesting opening pair.

#1 Mayank Agarwal and Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant can be made to open

Rishabh Pant has all the attributes to be in the team as a batsman alone but he has not shown his potential as a Test player so far but he is only at the beginning of his career. While he has been good with the gloves in hand, but with the bat in hand, he got starts in all the four innings that he has played in this series only to give his wicket away at crucial junctures.

Pant is not new to opening the batting order. He has done at the limited overs cricket. This can help India to make the middle order stronger by including both Hardik Pandya and R Ashwin in the team particularly overseas.

Mayank and Rishabh Pant can be a deadly combination at the top of the order and have the capability to blow away any opposition.