Opening in test cricket is something most and even the top batsmen would not wish for. The pressure to handle a new cherry and the need for a sound technique especially if you are playing in England, South Africa and Australia, makes the slot even more difficult to accept. Though Australia and South Africa and to some extent England have been able to find good openers regularly, India (and also Pakistan) have had tough times during the last one decade. India played with only one regular opener during most part of the 90s and early 2000s. The promotion of Sehwag to the top in the early 2000s was a great decision but none of his partners would play a long innings. Then came Wasim Jaffer, who already had played during India’s tour of SAF (2000) and West Indies (2003) but couldn’t make it big. He was recalled for the third Test against Sri Lanka in 2005-06. He started well with good scores against England and West Indies and suddenly India’s perennial problem seemed to have solved.

But the joy was short-lived when Sehwag lost his form and ultimately his place, mostly due to his irresponsible strokes and complacency in early 2007. This was when Dinesh Karthik, a young wicket-keeper, fought his way back into the Indian test and one day team with consistent batting and great temperament. Him playing as a batsman in the star-studded Indian team speaks of his ability and the confidence the team and management had in him. Good that a player not from Mumbai or Kolkatta is persisted with. After a decent performance in SAF, Karthik played scored a century as a specialist opener in Dhaka against Bangladesh (after team India’s forgettable world cup).

Even in this tour of England, he has done well with scores above 50 on three occasions. But, can we say Jaffer and Karthik has ended India’s pursuit of a good opening pair? Are we sure they would play a big innings, at least for another 3-4 years? What if they fail?

Going by everyone's opinion "identify the future prospects the same way the Australians or the SAFs do." That is how they have been able to dominate the world cricket for so long. For that we need to have a good domestic set up which of course will only remain theory until the BCCI is purged of its filthy members.