Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir hinted at wicketkeeper batter KL Rahul being back to the opening position if Rohit Sharma becomes unavailable for the first Test vs Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The IND vs AUS first Test will be starting on November 22, with the first match being played in Perth, Australia.
Rohit Sharma’s availability is still hanging on the ropes, as the star might skip the first Test citing personal reasons. But the Indian coach hopes the skipper’s presence in the Perth Test
“At the moment, there is no confirmation, but we will let you know exactly what the situation will be. Hopefully, he’s going to be available, but everything we’re going to get to know at the start of the series,” Gambhir said at a presser.
KL Rahul Might Open in the First Test vs Australia, Hints Gambhir
This again puts the equation in the edit mode as the question arises of who will potentially open alongside Yashaswi Jaiswal. Gambhir has a plan for that too. He hinted at it in the press conference. According to him, KL Rahul might shift back into the opening position. Abhimanyu Easwaran is another option.
“Obviously there is [Abhimanyu] Easwaran, and there is KL [Rahul] there. So we will take a call closer to the first Test match if Rohit is not available.
“There are options there, it’s not that there are no options there. There are quite a few options in the squad. Once it gets closer to the first Test match, we’ll plan and play the best playing XI that’s going to do the job for us.”
India may have options, but what is concerning is their form. Easwaran has let down the expectations in India A’s first two Tests against Australia A, while KL, who played the second Test, also couldn’t perform well. Both played in the opening position in the second Test, which India lost by 6 wickets. While KL scored just 4 and 10 in the two innings, continuing his abysmal form since the New Zealand series, Easwaran also hasn’t failed to disappoint, scoring 7, 12, 0, and 17.
“There are times when you go with the experienced players as well. And that is the quality of the man. That he can bat at the top of the order; he can bat at No. 3 and he can actually bat at No. 6 as well,” Gambhir said of Rahul. “You need quite a lot of talent to be doing these kinds of jobs as well. And he’s kept wickets in the one-day format as well.
“Imagine how many countries have players like KL who can open the batting and can bat at No. 6 as well? So I feel if need be, he can do the job for us, especially if Rohit is not available for the first Test match.”
There is another star in Rising that could take Roit’s spot at the opening if he is unavailable. It’s Shubhman Gill who also has the experience of opening in Australia last time India played the Red-Ball cricket there. But again, Gambhir was tight-lipped about the final confirmation but gave away hints.
“We will try and get the best combination possible who can do the job for us in Perth. And be it Shubman opening the batting or Easwaran or KL, it all depends on what we feel is the right combination,” Gambhir said.
Apart from some of the players who are already there in Australia playing the 4-day Tests against Australia A, there is another set of players—Yashaswi Jaiswal, Shubhman Gill, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, and Akash Deep—who have already taken the flight to Australia. There is one more group that will be leaving, which will probably be on Monday. But Rohit’s presence in that flight remains a mystery.
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