Former spinner Harbhajan Singh has opined that Shubman Gill should wait for his chance and urged the Indian team management to stick with Dhruv Jurel for the pink-ball Test against Australia in Adelaide.
Gill, India’s regular No. 3 batter, was ruled out of the series opener in Perth due to a thumb fracture. The right-hander seems ready for the second Test after doing well in the tour game against the Prime Minister's XI.
India face a selection headache ahead of the Adelaide Test. Rohit Sharma, who missed the first Test due to paternity leave, is set to return as a captain. Jasprit Bumrah led the visitors to 295-run victory in Perth during Rohit’s absence.
Shubman, who was left out of the Perth Test due to a fractured thumb, is also back in contention. If Rohit and Gill return to the playing XI, likely replacing Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel, the team management must address the opening combination.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul stitched a double-century stand as openers in Perth’s second innings, making a strong case to retain their partnership.
The pink-ball tour game in Canberra hinted at Jaiswal and Rahul continuing as openers, Gill slotting in at No. 3, and Rohit batting in the middle-order.
Amid the dilemma, Harbhajan has called for Gill’s exclusion from the line-up, with Rohit getting accommodated at No. 3.
"I would say let this KL Rahul-Yashasvi Jaiswal combination to continue. Shubman Gill, I guess, will have to make way for captain Rohit Sharma at No.3 and then Virat Kohli at No.4. After that, it is almost set," Harbhajan told Sports Today.
According to Harbhajan, India can’t use Gill at No.5 after he started off as a top-order batter and the situation is a bit complicated heading into Adelaide. He backed Jurel to retain his place in the playing XI, despite the latter’s scores of 11 and 1 in the two innings of Perth Test win.
"I guess Gill will have to wait for his chance. You took Jurel in for a match and when he didn't make runs, you would make him sit outside. So you can't play Gill from opening to No.5 as well. It's a complicated situation and you do feel trapped. But it's good only."
"I feel they will play Gill ahead of Jurel. But I feel Jurel should be played and given the chance," said Harbhajan.
