India's ideal No.6 for Boxing Day: Virat or Rohit?

Unlike hosts Australia, India’s captain and coach doesn’t have much to ponder about playing XI for the Melbourne test starting on Dec 26th. They just have to carry their three year long headache i.e an ideal batsman at the number 6 position.

When everyone called for Ganguly’s head three years ago, there were lot of talks that he was denying a chance to many talented youngsters. As expected, from the moment Ganguly retired, there are many youngster slotted in, yet there has been no one who has cemented his place permanently. Badrinath, Raina, Pujara and Yuvraj, are all immensely talented but somehow even after playing 33 test matches since Ganguly’s retirement, India is still finding someone to fill the hole left by him.

Finally after much struggle, the game of musical chair has arrived to a conclusion and possibly two of the best young Indian batsmen have come in the fray, one who was touted as potentially the world’s best batsmen and other who is expected to break many of Sachin Tendulkar records. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli doesn’t have much to separate between them in terms of recent form, technique, fitness and fielding.

Who will have the last laugh?

Kohli showed superb consistency when he was given the chances in ODI and became a central figure of India’s ODI team. His ability to score under pressure separates him from current lot of youngsters, and this is evident from Kohli’s record for the last two years. Rohit Sharma has the potential to become India’s best batsmen. His ability to play the short ball is an asset to him considering how other Indian youngsters have struggled against the short ball.

The experts have often said that the best players always have more time to play the ball i.e they pick the length of the ball early which allows them to have more scoring options. Rohit is one such player who has that immaculate timing to go with his ability to judge the length of the ball early.

Judging both Kohli and Sharma in terms of their performances in the tour games is not a right way to go. Kohli, who was selected to play ahead of Sharma in the last test match should be given a continuous run. Kohli has proved his talent with consistency unlike Sharma, though Sharma has recently corrected the mistakes he made early in his career. If there is a space in the playing XI, I will surely pick both of them because of their talent and current form. It also highlights the fact that the time for the retirement of India’s batting trio is coming soon.

Kohli is an aggressive character, which is similar to the way how Australians play. The moment host gets under his skin, he will either perform or perish with his attitude. It will be exciting to watch him bat and this tour will be a defining moment in his career.

My pick will be Virat Kohli but if team management goes with Rohit Sharma, then they should stick with him throughout the series rather shifting after a single bad performance.

Who is your pick for India’s No.6 for the Boxing Day test?

(Edited by Sambhav Khetarpal)