"Finally justice served" - Fans react as Shubman Gill replaces KL Rahul in India's playing XI for 3rd Test vs Australia

Shubman Gill has replaced KL Rahul in India's playing XI for the third Test against Australia, scheduled to be played at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, starting on Wednesday, March 1.

There were cries from various sections for Gill's inclusion after Rahul failed to get going in the first two Tests of the series, aggregating only 38 runs.

While skipper Rohit Sharma backed Rahul to retain his place in the side in the pre-match press conference, training sessions indicated otherwise. Shubman Gill was given an extended run on the first day of the net session and was also seen grilling hard on the optional training.

The Punjab-born cricketer was seen doing some drills at the forward short-leg with fielding coach T Dilip.

Fans were certainly happy to see Gill in the playing XI, who has been India's highest run-scorer so far in 2023. Many wished that the youngster plays a big knock and cement his place in the red-ball side.

Here are some of the reactions:

Vikrant Gupta

@vikrantgupta73

Finally it’s Shubman Gill in the XI @ShubmanGill
Umesh replaces Shami #IndvAus

194

12

Finally it’s Shubman Gill in the XI @ShubmanGill
Umesh replaces Shami #IndvAus

Saurabh Somani

@saurabh_42

Shubman Gill replaces KL Rahul for the third #INDvAUS Test.

And Umesh Yadav in for a rested Mohammed Shami.

Hope for Shubman's sake, he has a runs filled Test. The shrillness of the public discourse around Rahul could have only ratcheted the pressure up for his replacement...

Shubman Gill replaces KL Rahul for the third #INDvAUS Test.

And Umesh Yadav in for a rested Mohammed Shami.

Hope for Shubman's sake, he has a runs filled Test. The shrillness of the public discourse around Rahul could have only ratcheted the pressure up for his replacement... https://t.co/pN82WvQcXU

Rahul Rawat

@rawatrahul9

Shubman Gill it is, finally. #INDvAUS #IndvsAus

142

2

Shubman Gill it is, finally. #INDvAUS #IndvsAus

Vishal.

@SPORTYVISHAL

After a long time, we are finally going to see Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill as the opening pair in Tests again.

56

7

After a long time, we are finally going to see Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill as the opening pair in Tests again. 😁 https://t.co/GpaSGQVZKL

Amit Sinha

@Amiii074

KL Rahul replaced with Shubman Gill.
My heart rn.

#INDvAUS #KLRahul #ShubmanGill #Indoretest

2

KL Rahul replaced with Shubman Gill.
My heart rn.

#INDvAUS #KLRahul #ShubmanGill #Indoretest https://t.co/4MiZHLXWXH

Shakti Man 💥

@IamShaktiMann

@mufaddal_vohra Chalo guys shubman gill is playing. The day for which we waited for so long

45

2

@mufaddal_vohra Chalo guys shubman gill is playing. The day for which we waited for so long 🙏 https://t.co/I1vM6ndNqY

cult.sport

@cultsportindia

We have waited long for this.
Welcome back to the test XI.

#ShubmanGill #INDvAUS

We have waited long for this.
Welcome back to the test XI.

#ShubmanGill #INDvAUS https://t.co/JjkGGqYXNu

Laughing Buddha😁

@pritjaygavali

After hearing the playing XI for today's match.

#VenkateshPrasad #AakashChopra #INDvAUS #AUSvsIND #IndianCricketTeam #KLRahul𓃵 #ShubmanGill

After hearing the playing XI for today's match.

#VenkateshPrasad #AakashChopra #INDvAUS #AUSvsIND #IndianCricketTeam #KLRahul𓃵 #ShubmanGill https://t.co/jV7mS7Iqa1

Nishant Patel

@patel_nishu

Hopefully thats the end of a Test career with ample opportunities and no impact. Hope @ShubmanGill scores runs and cements his place. #KLRahul

Hopefully thats the end of a Test career with ample opportunities and no impact. Hope @ShubmanGill scores runs and cements his place. #KLRahul

Dibakar Dey

@dibakardey3333

Prince of India finally arrived #ShubmanGill #princegill

Prince of India finally arrived #ShubmanGill #princegill

जेंटल मैन

@gentleman07_

*Shubman Gill replaced KL Rahul*

Happiest Person On Earth :-
#INDvAUS

4

1

*Shubman Gill replaced KL Rahul*

Happiest Person On Earth :-
#INDvAUS https://t.co/ZuPqnXbjxf

Imperial Tiffin

@Yash_Dhawan_

Why is this day soooo goood?
'Cause finally Fraudlul has been sent for honeymoon.

Dravid is angry, par kya karein... KLOL ka Starc ke saamne hagna tay tha..

#INDvAUS 3rd test #KLRahul #ShubmanGill

Why is this day soooo goood?
'Cause finally Fraudlul has been sent for honeymoon.

Dravid is angry, par kya karein... KLOL ka Starc ke saamne hagna tay tha..

#INDvAUS 3rd test #KLRahul #ShubmanGill

Anshdeep singh

@Anshdeepsingh95

Finall we see shubman gill.. good decision?#INDvAUS

Finall we see shubman gill.. good decision?#INDvAUS

khujliwaladoc

@getingunderskin

@klrahul dropped!! @ShubmanGill gets a chance... finally justice served. All the best @BCCI
#INDvAUS

@klrahul dropped!! @ShubmanGill gets a chance... finally justice served. All the best @BCCI 👍
#INDvAUS

ً

@SarcasticCowboy

@BCCI @mastercardindia Shubhman in place of KL Rahul

Meanwhile cricket fans to KL Rahul

#IndvsAus #KLRahul

12

2

@BCCI @mastercardindia Shubhman in place of KL Rahul

Meanwhile cricket fans to KL Rahul 😁

#IndvsAus #KLRahul https://t.co/23fupdgDrl

Fantasy Cricket Tips To Win

@FantasyTipToWin

@BCCI @mastercardindia Good to see Gill in the team

2

@BCCI @mastercardindia Good to see Gill in the team 😀👍

Vasu Srini

@Srini14Vasu

@BCCI @mastercardindia Thank you @BCCI to given chance to Gill.
KL Rahul friendship with big shots ends after Delhi test.

2

@BCCI @mastercardindia Thank you @BCCI to given chance to Gill.
KL Rahul friendship with big shots ends after Delhi test.

Lalit Mali

@lalitma43912278

@BCCI @mastercardindia Shubman Gill

@BCCI @mastercardindia Shubman Gill 👑

Meanwhile, India made two changes in their playing XI. Along with dropping out-of-form KL Rahul, the home side rested Mohammed Shami for the Indore Test. Umesh Yadav, who waited on the sidelines, has made it into the playing XI. The senior pacer will pair up with Mohammed Siraj to lead the pace attack.

Australia, meanwhile, also made two forced changes to their playing XI. Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc replaced David Warner and Pat Cummins, respectively.

Rohit won the toss and decided to bat first at the Holkar Cricket Stadium as they look to take a 3-0 lead in the four-match series.

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India and Australia Playing XIs

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Srikar Bharat (wk), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, and Mohammed Siraj.

Australia: Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith (c), Peter Handscomb, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, and Matthew Kuhnemann.

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