Abhimanyu Easwaran or KL Rahul -- who should be India's opener in 1st BGT 2024-25 Test if Rohit Sharma isn't available
The highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy down under is less than a fortnight away with the first Test set to be played in Perth, starting November 22. Team India will look to pull off the improbable with a third consecutive Test series win in Australia after their 2-1 victory in 2018-19 and 2020-21.
Yet, all isn't smooth sailing for the Indian side heading into the blockbuster Australia series. The Asian giants are coming off a shocking 0-3 Test series whitewash at home against New Zealand.
Still reeling from that incomprehensible result, India will likely be without their skipper Rohit Sharma for the opening Test due to personal reasons, further compounding their woes.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir, in his final press conference before leaving for Australia, remained tight-lipped about Rohit's availability for the opening Test but mentioned Abhimanyu Easwaran and KL Rahul as potential replacement candidates.
"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. 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," he said.
The opening position is as crucial as any in Australia and the first Test is often the potential tone-setter for the rest of the series. Thus, selecting between Easwaran and Rahul as Yashasvi Jaiswal's opening partner will be paramount to India's chances of success.
On that note, let us get down to the nitty-gritty of who between Abhimanyu Easwaran and KL Rahul should open the batting for India in Rohit Sharma's absence for the first Australia Test.
#1 Dead heat on recent exploits in Australia
Unfortunately for Team India and its think tank, selecting either Abhimanyu Easwaran or KL Rahul based on the most recent viewing could be a painful exercise.
Easwaran, who had slammed the national selection door with groundbreaking performances in first-class cricket, struggled in the two India A's clashes against Australia A. The 29-year-old did not cross even 20 in the four innings and averaged a dismal nine in that stretch.
Meanwhile, Rahul fared no better, recording scores of four and 10 in the lone India A- Australia A contest he partook in at Melbourne. If these games were the winner-take-all contest between the duo for the second opening spot in Rohit Sharma's absence, it is safe to say the ending was an unfortunate dead heat.
#2 Value of an experienced opener- Crucial for several reasons
It is no secret that batting against the new Kookaburra ball on bouncy Australian pitches is the ultimate challenge, making the role of an opener as important as any in a lineup.
While KL Rahul doesn't boast an impressive Test record in Australia with an average of 20.77, his experience playing five Tests on these conditions could be invaluable. With Yashasvi Jaiswal having no previous experience at the international level in Australian conditions, playing someone of similar ilk in Easwaran with no Tests under his belt might be trouble for India.
Also, the unquantifiable factor of a high-pressure India-Australia Test in front of hostile Aussie crowds calls for a seasoned campaigner like Rahul to walk out as one of the openers instead of two relative newbies.
#3 What's to gain for Abhimanyu Easwaran?
Team India must also wonder if Abhimanyu Easwaran has anything to gain by debuting with the knowledge of playing only the lone Test in Perth. Being a specialist opener, the young right-hander can score big in his first international outing and might still find himself warming the benches for the rest of the series.
With Rohit expected to return for the second Test, the management must consider Easwaran possibly facing the first over of the most important Test series in a high-pressure environment like Australia only to be left out in the subsequent games.
Is all of it worth it for a young player or would a Rahul be the better make-shift opening choice for a solo Test? The answer is clearly the latter.
#4 Opening with KL Rahul - a double-edged sword for the rest of the series
Opening with KL Rahul in the first Australia Test could be the ultimate double-edged sword for the rest of the series. The 32-year-old has been mediocre at best in Tests over the last three years with an average of under 26 in 12 matches.
Rahul played only the first Test of the recent home series against New Zealand and scored 12 runs across the two innings. He followed that with a disastrous performance against Australia A, including a second innings dismissal leaving a ball only to see it go between his pads and strike timber.
With the confidence level and form at an all-time low, Rahul's opening in the first Test could go either way, impacting his and India's output for the rest of the series.
Considering India had Rahul reserved as their No.6 for the Australian tour, a strong showing as the opener in the first Test could help him regain his confidence and form to the point where he slots right in at No.6 from the second Test.
However, should he continue his dismal Test form with another couple of low scores at the top in the first Test, the team's confidence in playing him in the middle-order and his self-belief in doing well there might fade away.
#5 The hierarchical advantage goes to Abhimanyu Easwaran
While Abhimanyu Easwaran may not have much to gain in the big picture by opening for the lone first Test, he should be given that opportunity if selection is done on the unwritten hierarchy way.
Picked as the backup opener for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, his role was always one thing and one thing only - open the batting if Yashasvi Jaiswal or Rohit Sharma missed out in the playing XI for one or more games.
By that letter of the law and with him consistently opening the batting for whatever side he has played for more recently, the Bengal batter should get the nod ahead of KL Rahul to walk out with Jaiswal for the Perth Test.
Conclusion - KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran, or a left-field theory?
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Just the sheer number of factors divided between KL Rahul and Abhimanyu Easwaran should suggest the obvious - no singularly correct choice as Rohit Sharma's replacement at the top for the series.
If the flavor is current form, selection on hierarchy, and more recent opening experience, Easwaran should get the nod. However, if conditions-specific experience and the rest of the series are factored in, Rahul might be a better fit at the top with Jaiswal.
Team India also could consider the left-field option of opening the batting with their now-no.3 Shubman Gill. Lest we forget, Gill was crucial as the opener in India's famous 2020-21 Test series win down under, scoring 259 runs at an average of 51.80 in three outings.
Should India run with this option, Virat Kohli or KL Rahul can bat at No.3 with the rest of the batting lineup working itself out organically.