Kohli will be available for only first Test match of Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Former India batsman Aakash Chopra, who featured in 10 Tests, suggested a change for Team India in the absence of Virat Kohli after the first Test of the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Kohli will return back on paternity leave after playing the pink-ball Test at Adelaide which starts on December 17.
Chopra backed Shubman Gill to get a chance in the last three Tests over KL Rahul in the middle order. He was asked whether Gill or Rahul should replace Virat in the second Test match on his YouTube channel. To which, he said, Rahul can also be a part of the first Test as an opener instead of Prithvi Shaw.
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“Kohli will leave after the first Test and who will replace him? But there is a slight catch – about who will be opening in the first Test match, whether it will be Prithvi Shaw or KL Rahul will get his chance there itself,” said Chopra in his latest YouTube video.
“If you are looking to bat someone in the middle order, I feel Shubman Gill should get the nod ahead of KL Rahul,” he added.
Chopra said if there's a vacant spot at the opening position, Rahul can take that place. “If Prithvi Shaw fails or you want someone to open instead of Prithvi Shaw, if there is a spot as an opener, then KL Rahul. But in the middle order batting, as they say, to go by the rules, in terms of the pecking order Shubman Gill’s name after Virat Kohli is ahead of KL Rahul. So, in my opinion, Shubman Gill will be my choice,” he said.