India are all set to host Australia in a four-match Test series, starting February 9 in Nagpur. The series is crucial for India with respect to the World Test Championship (WTC) final

The Rohit Sharma-led side needs to win at least three Tests in the series to qualify for the final, due to be held at the Oval in June 2023.

Ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India’s opening combination has been a major talking point. While many feel that in-form Shubman Gill should partner skipper Rohit Sharma at the top, others are of the opinion KL Rahul will definitely open the innings being a vice-captain of the home side.

Sharing his verdict on the opening debate, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan said that the established pair of Rohit and Rahul should kick-start the proceedings for the hosts.

“Not in all three formats but in two formats. If you talk about Test matches, you have two openers who have scored runs in difficult conditions, scored runs in England and won matches for India there. KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma are there, so suddenly because Shubman Gill has scored runs in the T20 format, you cannot ask them to step aside and let him play. You need the stability,” Pathan told Star Sports.

However, Irfan Pathan is certain that Shubman Gill has cemented his place in the ODI and T20I teams.

Gill stole the limelight with his exploits in the white-ball series against New Zealand. The right-hander registered scores of 208, 40* and 112 in three T20Is while he slammed 126 off 63 balls in the series-deciding third T20I.

"I feel he has sealed his spot in T20 cricket after this century. He has done that in ODI cricket in any case. If it continues like this, you will see Shubman Gill alongside Rohit Sharma in the World Cup, there is no doubt about that. Now with the confidence he will get in T20 cricket, you can assume that his place is almost assured because a transition period is going on there after the T20 World Cup. So you will see him there," Pathan opined.