'He shouldn't be asked to come down the order': Ex-selector picks between KL Rahul, Shubman Gill for opening Test slot
Former India wicketkeeper and chief selector MSK Prasad spoke about India's potential opening combination in the upcoming four-match Test series against Australia.
One dilemma that Team India would face in the upcoming 1st Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, is who would open alongside captain Rohit Sharma. KL Rahul has done the job in past few years but Shubman Gill's name has floated in the picture in recent times. This has happened purely because of the exceptional rise of Gill as an opener who slammed a double ton and his 1st T20I century in the recently concluded series against New Zealand. He has surely proved himself as the next big thing in white-ball cricket for the Men in Blue. Moreover, cricket fans haven't forgotten Gill's 91-run knock in a winning cause at the historic Gabba Test in 2020-21. And added to that, he smashed his first Test century against Bangladesh in December last year.
Weighing in on the issue, former India wicketkeeper and chief selector MSK Prasad has backed Gill to open the innings. Prasad has also opined that Rahul should instead move down the order to make way for Gill.
"I would not mind seeing KL Rahul at No. 5 in Tests. I don't think Gill should be asked to come down the order. Rahul has played well in 50-over cricket and I see no reason why he shouldn't come down the order," Prasad told the news agency PTI.
Another conundrum that Rohit Sharma and Co. might face is who would do the wicketkeeper's job in the absence of Rishabh Pant who is recovering from his injuries after suffering a horrific road accident in December last year. BCCI has selected two wicketkeeper-batters namely KS Bharat and Ishan Kishan to fill in Pant's role.
Former chief selector Prasad also pitched in his advice for the wicketkeeper's position and he picked Bharat over Ishan.
"He (Bharat) has been groomed for this role even in presence of Rishabh Pant for the past two years. So, it is only fitting that Bharat is given the first chance to don the big gloves. He is ready," said Prasad.
