Legendary Sunil Gavaskar believes India’s opening pair debate is settled after KL Rahul has grabbed his opportunity with both hands. Rohit Sharma missed the opening Test due to personal reasons and in his absence, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal added 201 runs in the second innings at Perth.
But Rahul returned with scores of 37 and 7 in the second pink-ball Test at Adelaide and Gavaskar along with former Indian coach Ravi Shastri said that Rohit should return back to his opening position.
However, the team management didn’t make any changes to the opening pair and Rahul continued his purple patch as he scored a majestic knock of 84 runs in the first innings of the third Test at the Gabba, Brisbane to help India save the follow-on.
“Yes, that debate is settled. With the way he’s batted throughout these three Test matches, Rahul has to open. Rohit Sharma has not been in good form over the last four or five matches, not just these two matches yet, but over the last four or five matches, so it makes sense to go in with a batter who’s in very good form,” Gavaskar said on India Today after Day four.
On the other hand, Mitchell Starc has had his wood on Yashasvi Jaiswal as he got him out on the first ball of the Adelaide Test and then got rid of the left-hander on the second ball in India’s first innings at Brisbane. Gavaskar said he would like KL Rahul to take strike on the first ball against Starc.
“The only thing is, unless it’s a superstitious thing, I would like, maybe Rahul to take the first ball so that he just gives young Jaiswal a little time to settle at the other end because Jaiswal seems to be in a bit of a rush. When he comes there, he’s pushing hard at the ball, and you know he got away with the streaky boundary of to get forward, and next body was out, so maybe just get him some time to settle at the non-striker end,” said Gavaskar.
The third Test match ended in a draw after consistent rain throughout the match. The fourth Test match between India and Australia will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground from 26th December.
