Despite Rohit Sharma‘s recent struggles in Test cricket, former Australia captain Michael Clarke has advised the Indian selectors to pick the opener for the upcoming England tour. India are slated to tour England in June this year for a five-match Test series that will also kickstart the next ICC World Test Championship cycle. Rohit struggled to get runs during India’s Australia tour of 2024-25 with the veteran batter dropping himself from the playing XI for the fifth and final Test of the five-match series citing his form. Rohit managed 31 runs while opening innings in three Tests during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy which India lost 1-3. Clarke feels Rohit still has the game to succeed at the highest level but has advised the 37-year-old to bat in the middle-order. “I think Rohit still has the game,” Clarke said on Backstage with Boria. “Class is permanent and you have seen that in the Champions Trophy final. He would be an ideal No. 5. He can face the second new ball if needed, and if there are early wickets, he can hold things up as well. But Rohit loves to open and can blunt the new ball as well.” “If I was an Indian selector, I’d pick Rohit for England as the captain and leader,” he added. Rohit has played seven Tests in England so far and has scored 524 runs at an average of 40.30. He has scored one century and two half-centuries. Rohit’s form during the home Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand followed by the forgettable tour of Australia raised questions over his red-ball future. However, a report claimed that the Champions Trophy triumph in Dubai may have helped him prolong his Test career. “He (Rohit) has shown what he can do. Every stakeholder feels that he is the right candidate to lead the Indian side for the tour of England. Rohit too has expressed his eagerness to keep playing red-ball cricket,” a source was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.