Former Test batsman Wasim Jaffer today expressed his disappointment at the way India openers performed in the last few overseas tours but said the team should stick to the same combination of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma.
"The kind of start Shikhar and Rohit provided before the start of South Africa series, I don't think people would have even thought about (having different openers for different formats). But I am sure, the conditions were different," Jaffer said when asked whether India should have different openers for different formats.
"I am disappointed the way they have performed but I feel they should be given more opportunities, because in three or four innings, nobody becomes a good player or a bad player. We should stick to the players who are talented," the 35-year-old former India opener said.
Jaffer was speaking to reporters at the announcement of Petroleum Sports Promotion Board Inter-Unit tournament, hosted by Indian Oil.
In the ODI series in New Zealand which ended today, Sharma scored 145 runs in five matches, while his partner Dhawan managed only 81 in four matches.
Jaffer said that the Indian team could have tried Ajinkya Rahane as another opener.
"Rohit has got a double hundred, a few ODIs back and also a 79 in the previous game, so it is unfair (to ask someone to replace him as an opener). Ajinkya has opened all his life so probably that is an area they could have looked at, but (captain Mahendra Singh) Dhoni is far intelligent than me, so he must be thinking," he said.
After a good performance in South Africa, Rahane failed with the bat in the New Zealand ODI series with just 51 runs from five matches and Jaffer said the 25-year-old would have been disappointed.
"He got an opportunity to perform, he has had the overs to bat. It is not that he is coming in the last 10-15 overs. So, I am sure he must be disappointed," said Jaffer.
The veteran Mumbai batsman said that Cheteshwar Pujara should also be considered for the ODI squad and would fare well at the number three or four slot.
