India skipper Rohit Sharma has backed Shubman Gill to flourish at No.3 in Test cricket after the young batter failed with the bat in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Centurion.

While Gill has established himself in India’s white-ball teams with remarkable performances, he is yet to leave a big mark in Test cricket. In 19 Tests so far, he has amassed 994 runs at an average of 31.06 with two hundreds and four half-centuries.

Shubman started his Test career as an opener but after Cheteshwar Pujara’s ouster from the side, he has been batting at No. 3 for India.

Gill registered scores of 2 and 26 across the two innings at SuperSport Park. Overall, he has scored 120 runs from six Test innings at No. 3 with the best score of 47.

"There is not much difference (on opening to batting at number 3). It takes just 1 ball for a number 3 to go in. And sometimes when an opener gets injured, a number 3 has to walk out and open the innings. I don't see much difference there. Gill is smart and understands his batting pretty well," Rohit told the reporters on the eve of the second Test.

"He prefers that number. He has batted in the Ranji Trophy at that number around that position. He has opened in Test and limited overs game but the number 3 was his preference. He feels he can do well for us batting at that position. It is an individual things about how you think about certain positions," he added.

"I hated batting at number 3 and that is my opinion. Either you open the batting or you wait a little to go down the order to bat at number 5 or 6. Since I started opening, from 3 onwards till number 7 I don't think it is the right position for anyone," he further remarked.

India suffered an innings and 32 runs defeat in the Centurion Test to concede an unassailable 1-0 lead to South Africa in the two-match series.

The Cape Town Test will be the last match of India’s tour to South Africa and the visitors will look to level the series and kick-off the new year on a positive note.

(India Today Inputs)