3 ways India can line up without Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in 1st BGT 2024-25 Test
Team India are gearing up for the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which will begin with the first Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth from Friday, November 22. Following their arrival in Australia, the visitors engaged in net sessions for a few days before taking part in an intra-squad match simulation.
India will go into the opening Test in Perth with a few headaches over selection. Skipper Rohit Sharma is unlikely to be available for the first Test. He has reportedly informed the BCCI that he wants to spend some time with his family following the birth of his second child recently.
Shubman Gill is also unlikely to be available after suffering a thumb injury while fielding in the match simulation at the WACA.
In the absence of Rohit and Gill, two of the key members of the batting unit, India will be forced to alter their team combination for the Perth Test.
We look at three ways India can line up without Rohit and Gill in 1st BGT 2024-25 Test.
#1 Open with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Abhimanyu Easwaran, with KL Rahul at No. 3
In Rohit's absence, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Abhimanyu Easwaran are the two specialist openers available with India for the Perth Test. Easwaran can thus join Jaiswal at the top of the order and make his international debut in the first Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The visitors would not like to alter Virat Kohli's position. Hence, KL Rahul could come in at the one down position, with Kohli batting at his customary No. 4 spot. Also, while Rishabh Pant would be the keeper-batter, Dhruv Jurel can play as frontline batter in the middle-order in place of Sarfaraz Khan.
Looking at the bowling, India are likely to go in with four pacers - Jasprit Bumrah, who would lead the team in Rohit's absence, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who looks set to make his Test debut in Perth.
As has been the case in recent years when India have played abroad, Ravindra Jadeja is expected to pip Ravichandran Ashwin in case the visitors play only one spinner.
Predicted XI in scenario 1: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah (c), Mohammed Siraj
#2 Open with Rahul, promote Jurel to No. 3
While Easwaran is a frontline opener, he looked quite ordinary in the two unofficial Tests played between India A and Australia A ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The 29-year-old, who has the experience of 101 first-class matches, was dismissed for 7 and 12 in the first unofficial Test in Mackay. In the second match of the series in Melbourne, he registered scores of 0 and 17.
If India are not confident of playing Easwaran in the Perth Test, they could open with Jaiswal and Rahul. Jurel can be promoted to No. 3. He has only played a handful of Tests for India, but displayed great technique and temperament during the second unofficial Test in Melbourne, scoring 80 and 68.
Jurel is the kind of player who can anchor the innings. It might just be worth it giving him a shot at the crucial No. 3 position. With Rahul opening and Jurel batting one down, Team India can also include Sarfaraz in the playing XI in place of Easwaran.
Predicted XI in scenario 2: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah (c), Mohammed Siraj
#3 Open with Rahul, bring Padikkal at No. 3
Another unconventional option Team India can explore is opening with Rahul and bringing in Devdutt Padikkal for the No. 3 spot. The latter was part of the India A squad against Australia A and has reportedly been asked to stay back as a batting back-up. The left-hander did a reasonable job in the unofficial Tests, scoring 36 & 88 in Mackay and 26 & 1 in Melbourne.
Padikkal is rated highly as a batter among India's upcoming players. He also has the experience of batting at various positions in his domestic career. The 24-year-old has been in reasonable form with the willow lately, so Team India can ponder on bringing him into the playing XI in place of Sarfaraz.
Predicted XI in scenario 3: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah (c), Mohammed Siraj