Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill missed the Perth Test, but are slated to return for Adelaide match.
Sunil Gavaskar, former India captain, has shared his thoughts on batter KL Rahul’s position in the Indian XI for the second BGT 2024 Test against Australia in Adelaide. India leads the series 1-0 after the 295-run win in the first Test in Perth.
India is scheduled to play a two-day warm-up day/night match against Prime Minister XI at the Manuka Oval in the Australian capital of Canberra from Saturday. The pink ball warm-up match in Canberra is crucial for India because it will be their sole practice match before the day-night second Test in Adelaide.
Captain Rohit Sharma will also play his first game in Australia, having mmissedthe first Test in Perth owing to the birth of his kid.
Speaking about the Indian team’s combination for the Adelaide Test, Sunil Gavaskar stated that Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill will come in the Indian XI, while Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel making way for the duo.
Talking to 7Cricket, Gavaskar said, "I think there will be two changes for sure, both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill coming back into the 11.”
Rahul may be placed at number three instead of Padikkal, depending on whether the injured Gill recovers in time for the match. Gill missed the first Test match and has yet to bat in the nets due to a hairline fracture sustained during an intra-squad match at the WACA.
However, Gavaskar felt that Rohit Sharma will return to his opening spot, while Shubman Gill will be slotted at no.3. This means KL Rahul will have to move down to no.6 spot.
"My feeling is that the batting order will change. Where Rohit Sharma will replace Rahul, Shubman Gill will bat at three, Padikkal and Jurel will go out of the team, Rahul will bat at six,” Gavaskar added.
In Perth, Washington Sundar was chosen over Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, both senior spinners.
PrBeforehe 36-all-out in the December 2020 Pink Ball Test in Adelaide, Ashwin led India in the first innings with 4 for 45, including a superb removal of Steven Smith.
However, given their previous performances in the nets, Ashwin, Jadeja, and Washington don't offer much of a choice. Batting becomes even more important in Pink Ball Tests because spinners are rarely employed.
Gavaskar concludes, "And one other change that could happen is that Jadeja comes in place of Washington Sundar."
The second Test in Adelaide will begin on December 6 and will be a pink ball, day/night affair.