Rohit Sharma or Cheteshwar Pujara: Who should bat at number three in Tests?

New Delhi: Since Shikhar Dhawan has been ruled out of the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka, Virat Kohli's job has become slightly easier since he will probably not to deal with the pressure of selecting two openers between Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul and Murali Vijay.

But what would be bothering Kohli and the selectors is the form of Rohit Sharma, the right-hander who is yet to cement his place in whites. Considering that somebody like Cheteshwar Pujara is warming the benches, Rohit's inconsistency is not only baffling for the Indian cricket fans, but also for the skipper and the management who have backed him relentlessly.

Sharma could score just 13 runs in two innings at Galle, a match where India needed someone like him to show experience in the second innings where Indian batsmen collapsed like a pack of cards.

While the team management and Kohli once again backed the talented right-hander on the basis of his ability of scoring runs at a brisk pace, it is difficult to ignore the fact that Pujara has been a run-machine in the Indian domestic circuit and being more technically sound, he is someone who should be playing regularly for India in the traditional format of the game.

While Rohit has an average of 35 from 12 Tests, Pujara has an impressive average of 47 from 27 Tests. Pujara might take some time to shape his innings, and even though he might not score runs at a quick pace, he is someone who can certainly provide stability with his consistent performances.

In all possibility, Rohit will play the remaining two Tests in Sri Lanka. But if he once again falls for low scores, the selectors might have to contemplate bringing back Pujara.