India’s preparations for the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener have been hit by a major setback, as star batter KL Rahul sustained an injury during a practice session at the WACA in Perth on Friday. The 32-year-old, who was almost set to open the batting alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Perth Test, was struck on his right elbow during an intra-squad match. With the first Test scheduled to begin on November 22, Rahul’s injury has raised serious concerns about India’s opening partnership.
A massive blow for India’s plans
This injury comes at a crucial time for India, as they are already without captain Rohit Sharma, who is expected to miss the series opener. KL Rahul had almost secured his spot as a guaranteed opener alongside Jaiswal. With this setback, India now faces the dilemma of selecting a suitable replacement to partner Jaiswal at the top of the order.
The question remains. Who will open for India in Perth Test? With less than 10 days before the start of the Test series, India has a few options to consider.
Abhimanyu Easwaran
Abhimanyu Easwaran, a prime contender to open the innings, could make his debut for India in the Test against Australia. Despite having played cricket in Australia, Easwaran has never featured in a Test for India. His inclusion would be a bold move, given the high stakes of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener. Recently, Gautam Gambhir suggested that with Rohit Shamra unavailable, Easwaran could be a potential option. However, selecting him for his debut in such a crucial match would be a risky decision, especially considering the challenge of facing Australia on their home turf.
Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill could also be a good option, given his experience opening the innings in Australia during the 2020-2021 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Gill scored 259 runs in three matches, with a memorable knock of 91 in the historic win at Brisbane. Although Gill has the experience, shifting him to open would disrupt India’s middle order, potentially pushing Virat Kohli to number three and altering the batting balance.
The big question: Who will step up?
India’s management now faces a tough decision in selecting the right opening partner for Jaiswal. With a week left before the Test, the team will have to carefully weigh the risks of each option. Will Gill open again in Australia, Eshwaran will be making is debut or will Rohit Sharma will land in Australia. Only the time can tell.
