Former New Zealand head coach and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)’s Director of Cricket Mike Hesson wants India to consider opening with Mayank Agarwal in the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand. The two teams will lock horns in the summit clash at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, starting June 18. India are likely to go with tried and tested pair of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill to open the final.

However, Hesson has suggested a change for Virat Kohli & Co. The former New Zealand coach feels Agarwal, who played in the Test series against New Zealand last year, can prove crucial with his experience against the Kiwi bowlers. Agarwal had opened with Shaw in the Test series against the Kiwis in their own backyard and had notched up 102 runs in four innings including a half-century.

Nonetheless, India went on to lose the series 2-0 – their only series defeat in the World Test Championship but ended up making it to the final by topping the table at the end of the group stages. Hesson feels Mayank can prove to be handy in the final if he pairs up with Rohit at the top.

“They will probably go with Rohit and Shubman but I think Mayank needs to be considered. He has faced the New Zealand attack in New Zealand, where he would have got some crucial experience,” Mike Hesson told PTI on Wednesday.

With Rohit enjoying a purple patch against Australia and in the home series against England, Gill, who didn’t perform well in the England series is likely to make way for Agarwal if Team India decides to make a change in the opening combination for the decisive clash.

While many believe New Zealand’s ongoing Test series against England puts them at advantage ahead of the final, Hesson is of the opinion that playing three back-to-back Tests (2 against England, and WTC final) can prove to be costly for the Kiwis, who might not get proper rest ahead of the all-important game.

“It is an issue. New Zealand will have to look at the bowling attack and that’s potentially why Trent Boult will play this game (second Test against England from Thursday. That will give one of those other quicks to rest potentially, because it’s only four days between each Test. So, three on the bounce is a big deal, especially if you put in 45 to 50 overs in the second Test, or they just decide to manage the workloads which is not something you usually do going into a Test match,” said Hesson