IND vs AUS Indore Test: Shubman Gill vs KL Rahul – The D-Day is coming up KL Rahul in Border Gavaskar Trophy. Despite backing from captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid, Rahul is likely to be dropped for the Indore Test. Shubman Gill is the favourite to come to the Playing XI. However, any call on Rahul will be taken after two practice sessions at the Holkar Stadium. If Rahul is dropped, there are chances that he will head to Gwalior to play in Irani Cup. Follow India vs Australia LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
“It’s up to the team management to take a call on the Playing XI. The selectors have selected the squad after consulting with both captain and the coach. They backed Rahul. Now, whether he will be retained in the squad is up to them. But yes, if they decide to go with Shubman, the idea is to send Rahul to Irani so that he can get his confidence back,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
IND vs AUS Indore Test: Rahul Dravid & Rohit Sharma to decide on KL Rahul after practice, Shubman Gill on standby, Follow LIVE Updates
With an average of 15.90 since his last Test century, KL Rahul has made it difficult for the team management to back him. He has failed to reach the 30-run mark, scoring 8, 12, 10, 22, 23, 10, 2, 20, 17, 1 in his last 10 innings.
KL Rahul since his last Test century:
- Rahul has extended his wretched form in Tests in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
- He has not even crossed the 30-run mark, scoring 8, 12, 10, 22, 23, 10, 2, 20, 17, 1 in his last 10 innings.
- So far in the series against Australia, Rahul has only managed 20, 17 & 1.
- The stats are abysmal in the last 12 months too. He has managed an average of just 13.57.
- R Ashwin (37.00) and Mohammad Shami (21.80) have a better average than the opener in those 12 months.
The sacked vice-captain now needs to turn things around to be on the flight to WTC Final. He needs to fire in any opportunities he gets in the remaining series, ODIs and in IPL.
“He will remain in the plans if he gets his form back. The only chance he will have are the ODI series and the IPL. But of course, if Shubman gets runs, it will complicate squad selection,” a senior official told InsideSport on Monday.
The BCCI selection committee will pick the squad for WTC Final (if India qualify) during IPL. But a lot will depend on Rahul’s form. If given a chance, Shubman scores and Mayank Agarwal also fire in the Irani Cup besides IPL 2023, it will be difficult for the team management to justify KL Rahul’s selection for the WTC Final.
IND vs AUS Indore Test: Rahul Dravid & Rohit Sharma to decide on KL Rahul after practice, Shubman Gill on standby, Follow LIVE Updates
Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad has argued that Rahul must get his form back in Indore to be in the frame for WTC Final squad.
“With KL being retained for the remaining 2 test matches, if he is picked in the playing 11, Indore is his best chance of coming back to form and silencing critics like me. Else needs to play county cricket, perform well and make a comeback in the Test side,” Prasad said on Twitter.
Meanwhile, Team India are assembling in Indore today ahead of the 3rd Test. Rohit Sharma & Co will resume practice tomorrow. India are just a win away from sealing WTC Final spot.
India’s Test squad for third and fourth Test: Rohit Sharma (Captain), K L Rahul, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.
IND vs AUS Indore Test: Rahul Dravid & Rohit Sharma to decide on KL Rahul after practice, Shubman Gill on standby, Follow LIVE Updates
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