Rohit Sharma braced for spell as India opener for South Africa series

Chief selector MSK Prasad hopes Rohit can repeat his one-day international success in the longest form when the series kicks off next month

India will examine Rohit Sharma's credentials as a Test opener during the upcoming series against South Africa.

KL Rahul has been dropped from the squad following his poor form against the West Indies and replaced by the uncapped Shubman Gill ahead of next month's matches.

Mayank Agarwal will have a new partner for the series with Rohit identified as a possible candidate due to his impressive one-day international form at the top of the order.

Rohit averages 50.90 in ODIs when batting in the top two but has been limited to a role in the middle-order in Tests.

But chief selector MSK Prasad is optimistic the 32-year-old can take his white-ball form into the longest format, starting against The Proteas.

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"Yes, we are definitely looking (at Rohit) as an opener, and we want to give him an opportunity,” Prasad said.

"He is keen, and all of us in the selection committee are keen too. We want to push him, and give him some opportunities up the order, and see where he stands, and then we will take a call. He will get a fair run.

"He has been opening in white-ball cricket for more than a decade. We feel he has the capability to bat up the order, we have seen that in white-ball cricket, and if he can do that in red-ball cricket, then nothing like it. 

"We have a lot of practice matches coming up, which will be a boost to this side."

Following a three-match T20 series between the two nations, India face South Africa in three Tests starting on October 2 in Visakhapatnam, before games in Pune and Ranchi.