On November 11, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed a press conference ahead of the team’s departure for their Australia tour. Gambhir spoke about Rohit Sharma’s availability for the first Test, expressing hope that Rohit would be part of the opening match. However, he acknowledged that it might not happen, as Rohit could stay back in India due to paternity responsibilities.
Gautam Gambhir Speaks on Rohit Sharma’s Opening Replacement
When questioned about potential adjustments to the Indian team in Rohit’s absence, Gambhir shared his thoughts on the matter. Gautam Gambhir stated that if Rohit Sharma misses the match, the captaincy will be handed over to Jasprit Bumrah. Speaking about Rohit’s replacement in the team, Gambhir mentioned that they have two options in Abhimanyu Easwaran and KL Rahul.
“Obviously, there is [Abhimanyu] Easwaran and there is KL [Rahul] there. So, we will make a decision closer to the first Test match if Rohit is not available,” Gambhir said during the press conference.
Abhimanyu Easwaran’s consistent performances in domestic cricket earned him a Test call-up. However, his recent outings for India A against Australia A were underwhelming. In two unofficial Tests, Easwaran opened the innings but managed to score only 36 runs across four innings. Initially viewed as a frontrunner to replace Rohit Sharma in the first Test, his recent form has led the Indian management to explore other options, including KL Rahul.
However, KL Rahul is also facing a rough patch in terms of form. He scored just 14 runs in an unofficial Test against Australia A and was dropped from the playing XI during the New Zealand series. Despite this, his experience could give him an edge over Abhimanyu Easwaran as an opener.
WATCH VIDEO: KL Rahul suffers Brain Fade moment; throws wicket away with Disastrous Leave vs Australia A
KL Rahul last opened in a Test during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023. Since India’s Test series in South Africa in December 2023, he has been batting in the middle order due to a role change following Yashasvi Jaiswal’s entry into the team. Now, there is a possibility that KL Rahul might open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Perth Test.