Heading into the first Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Nagpur, the Indian Team is in a bit of a conundrum. Team captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid have to make a big decision of selecting the 2nd opener. KL Rahul and Shubman Gill are the two options in front of the Indian Team.
While Rahul is the team’s regular opener, Gill has been on fire in 2023. According to recent reports, Rahul may open the innings alongside the captain, with Gill batting at No. 5. It was also being speculated that Suryakumar Yadav will be given a chance in the playing XI. However, that does not seem to be the case.
Earlier, when asked if Gill would bat at No. 5, Indian vice-captain Rahul said: “We still haven’t decided on the final XI. It’s going to be a tough decision to make. There are guys who have performed exceedingly well and there are a few spots open so there are a few discussions going on and the players are being spoken to.”
Despite the temptations of using a player like Surya at No. 5 due to his tendency for playing unorthodox shots, former national selector Devang Gandhi believed head coach Rahul Dravid might be more inclined to start Gill in the first Test.
“Shubman had a double hundred in West Indies playing for India ‘A’ in the middle-order. And in the last Test series that he played (against Bangladesh), he got a century,” Gandhi told the Times of India (TOI).
On the other hand, fans were sceptical about the decision to demote the in-form batter down the order. Fans suggested that Gill should open the batting and KL Rahul should be dropped from the playing XI. They suggested that KS Bharat serve as India’s wicketkeeper for the match.
“Doesn’t make sense, with the kind of form he is in, should open, him playing at 5 means again he would be left out when Iyer comes in 2nd test,” a fan wrote.
Here is how Twitter reacted to Shubman Gill batting at No. 5
Klol mc ko drop karo
— Pain (@MudrykMadness) February 8, 2023
Imagine if he scores a hundred and Iyer replaces him in 2nd test
— Prasun Jha (@jprasun21) February 8, 2023
TOI saying gill will play and indian express saying Sky will play, who to trust???
— PK (@LM10Supremacy) February 8, 2023
Means non performing Rahul in team is a perfect receipe of disaster..wish Rahane got as much chances as him
— astroamitk12 (@darkknightback) February 8, 2023
Shubman ko Rohit ke sath opening karni chahiye jaisa ki ab Worldcup year h to Rohit ko 1 hi partner ke sath open karao na taki vo hamesha comfortable rahe.
— Rajasthan Royals Fans Army™ – RR Fan Club (@RoyalsFansArmy) February 8, 2023
Captain and Vice captain to open. Hmmm
— Vishnu Raj (@VishnuRaj19) February 8, 2023
So we start with 0/1 in 1.1 overs with @ImRo45 and @cheteshwar1 battling it out?
— Vishwas Paranjpe (@VishwasParry) February 8, 2023
Drop kl Rahul
Play SKY and gill both— Doyo ? (@Read_and_love) February 8, 2023
Surya should play
— K (@122off61) February 8, 2023
Surya should play
— K (@122off61) February 8, 2023
Gill partnership with Jadeja-Ashwin and the bowlers will decide a lot of results.
After the first 4-5 wickets the game goes in the ODI mode. You look for 40 odd overs and as many runs as you can. Gill might be the right man to have out there in that period— ?AHIR? (@Weapon5Grade) February 8, 2023
Doesn't make sense, with the kind of form he is in,should open,him playing at 5 means again he would be left out when Iyer comes in 2nd test.
— Jayesh (@Jayesh_45) February 8, 2023
