"Bats differently, slightly, to me and Pujara, but still a very, very good player" - Rahul Dravid backs Shubman Gill to excel at No. 3 in 2024-25 BGT
Much like himself and Cheteshwar Pujara in the past, Team India legend and former head coach Rahul Dravid has backed Shubman Gill to produce the goods at No. 3 in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The five-Test series is set to begin in Perth on November 22.
Gill debuted in Tests as an opener in the 2020-21 series in Australia which India won 2-1. The 25-year-old impressed immediately, averaging almost 52 in three Tests with two half-centuries.
Gill's 91 in the final innings of the deciding Test in Brisbane played a massive role in India's historic run-chase of 328. Yet, the youngster has been moved to No. 3 in the batting order since the second half of last year.
Despite early struggles, Gill has made the spot his own and averages over 42 in 25 innings at No. 3.
During an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Dravid was asked if India would miss someone like him or Pujara at No. 3, to which he responded:
"Well, they've got Shubman Gill, who is a terrific player. He's had some great success in Australia the last time. Everyone talks about Rishabh's 80 [89] and rightly so, but I think Shubman got 91 to set the game up on that fifth morning. So no, he's a fine, fine player, he's a great kid, and he's learning. Bats differently, slightly, to me and Pujara, but still a very, very good player."
Dravid was the star with an average of almost 124 in India's drawn series in Australia in 2003-04. On the other hand, Pujara helped India win their first-ever Test series in Australia in 2018-19, averaging an extraordinary 74.40 in four outings.
Gill is ruled out of the first Test at Perth due to a thumb injury.
"You're going to need one of that top four or two of the top four to have a great series" - Rahul Dravid on 2024-25 BGT
![India's chances will hinge massively on Gill and Kohli's batting in the Australian Tests [Credit: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/b0f2f-17320026587110-1920.jpg?w=500)
Rahul Dravid feels the top order would be key to India's success in the upcoming Test series against Australia.
Team India will miss two of their top four — skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill — in the first match. Meanwhile, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal will play Tests for the first time in Australia and Virat Kohli enters the series in woeful batting form.
"Runs on the top will be important. Now whether it comes from one, two or three or four, it doesn't really matter. You're going to need one of that top four or two of the top four to have a great series. That really helps in Australia. With the Kookaburra ball and those conditions, if you can get through that initial period and have your top four soak in a lot of that period, it really allows your lower order to be able to control and dominate those games," Dravid said in the same interview.
Despite the uncertainties around the top order, India can derive confidence from winning the last four bilateral Test series against Australia, including two Down Under.