Gautam Gambhir Press Conference: Not Shubman Gill? ICT Coach Opens Up On BGT Opening Slot Saga

Gautam Gambhir Press Conference: The ICT coach has opened up on Rohit Sharma's potential absence from the 1st or 2nd Test, and has named THESE players as opening contenders, Read below.

KL Rahul and Abhimanyu Easwaran are potential opening contenders for India in the absence of Rohit Sharma

Source : @X/mufaddal_vohra

Gautam Gambhir Press Conference: Rohit Sharma is subject to miss either of 1st or 2nd Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, and Indian Cricket Team head coach Gautam Gambhir has cleared the air on the opening slot saga.

'GG' has named Abhimany Easwaran and KL Rahul as the potential contenders for the opening slot 'if' Rohit Sharma misses out, and this, therefore, confirms that Shubman Gill will be batting at one-down, and Yashasvi Jaiswal to open with a new partner.

"If Rohit is not available, we have got Easwaran and KL in Australia. We will take a call," said Gautam Gambhir.

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When asked about KL Rahul's form, the Indian coach reflected on the ever-reliable attributes of the right-handed batsman.

"How many countries has players like KL, who can open and can bat at 6 and can also keep," he added.

New Challenge Awaits Shubman Gill At No.3

Shubman Gill has been batting at number 3 slot for India in Tests from the past 18 months, as the Indian side is in search for a worthy replacement of Cheteshwar Pujara, who was axed for the red-ball set-up after the conclusion of the India Vs Australia 2023 series.

However, Shubman Gill has not lived up to the billing and has not provided enough confidence and performance to fill-in the shoes of legendary Cheteshwar Pujara.

Shubman Gill made a name for himself during the BGT 2020-21 series in Australia, as his heroics in the Gabba Test made him a national hero alongside many other heroes of the Gabba Test.

But, during the series, Shubman Gill played as an opener, and this time, with India eyeing KL Rahul and Abimanyu Easwaran as back-up openers for Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal, the ‘Prince’ of Indian cricket will have to repeat the heroics of Cheteshwar Pujara at number 3 in-order to deliver a series victory for India, as the side are staring at the barrel of missing out on a hat-trick of WTC finals.