India captain Rohit Sharma says the Asia Cup will be crucial for batsmen to prove their worth in their bid of trying to solve the team’s middle-order woes ahead of next year’s World Cup.

The six-time champions open their campaign against minnows Hong Kong on Tuesday in a fixture they are expected to win comfortably. However, there are question marks over the strength of their middle-order.

Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav and Ambati Rayudu are among the three players aiming to press their case for selection over the next fortnight. With just eight months to go before the ICC showpiece in England and Wales, Rohit admits it’s crucial that India address their problems with particular focus on identifying their best batsmen for the number four and six slots.

“I can’t give you an answer on where people will bat where but of course there are a lot of spots up for grabs,” the opening batsman told media at ICC Academy on Tuesday.

“Like three, four and six. All these guys like (Kedar, Manish and Ambati) are eyeing those places. We have to see what the best combination is for this tournament and want to give chances to as many people as possible.

“In this tournament, we need to seal number four and six. I’m sure all those guys eyeing that spot are hungry and want to do well and grab those positions. But I still have a word with the coach and see what the best combination.”