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With all eyes set on the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25, Team India Head Coach Gautam Gambhir on Monday, November 11 opened up on the possibility of wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul opening the innings in absence of skipper Rohit Sharma. Notably, Gambhir’s comments came on Monday morning, ahead of the departure of the second batch of the Indian cricket team.
Uncertainty looms over Rohit Sharma’s participation in the first few Tests as he is set to welcome his second child with wife Ritika Sajdeh, although the couple have remained tight-lipped on the same. Furthermore, it is to be seen that after reports surfaced that Rohit will travel with the team to Australia, the 37-year-old did not leave on Sunday, neither on Monday with them.
KL Rahul likely to open in first Test in Rohit Sharma’s absence
Addressing the pre-departure press conference on Monday, Gautam Gambhir remained unsure over captain Rohit Sharma’s participation in the first Test against Australia, but clarified that if he is unavailable, Jasprit Bumrah will lead the side. He also added that the team has back-up plans ready with Abhimanyu Easwaran and KL Rahul in contention to open the innings.
"Obviously, there is Easwaran, there is KL Rahul. We will take a call ahead of the 1st Test if Rohit is unavailable. There are options there. It's not like there are no options. Once we get closer to the 1st Test, we will try and put in the best playing XI," Gambhir added. "You go with experienced players as well. I think that is the quality of a man that he (KL Rahul) can actually bat at the top of the order. You can batter at number three, and he can actually bat in sixth position as well. So you need quite a lot of talent to be doing these kinds of jobs as well, and he kept pickets in a one-day format as well,” he further added.
He further remained confident on picking KL as he concluded, “So imagine how many countries have players like KL Rahul who can actually open the batting and can bat at number six as well. So I feel that if needed to be, I think he can do the job for us, especially if Rohit is not available for the first Test match.” However, things will be further clarified as the first Test, set to be played at the Optus Stadium in Perth from November 22 gets closer. Meanwhile, the Men in Blue will aim to put right permutations and combinations to take an early lead in the five-match Test series.
India’s squad for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25
Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.
Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed
