The KL Rahul versus Shubman Gill debate has taken center stage in the Indian cricket fraternity ahead of the third Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
While KL Rahul has been the No. 1 choice for the team management, his prolonged lean patch has led to calls for him to be dropped from the squad and replaced by the in-form Shubman Gill. As the debate continues, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has given his verdict on the matter on the eve of the third Test at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.
Before the series had even begun in Nagpur, veteran cricketers had already started backing Gill over Rahul. Gill had hit his maiden Test century against Bangladesh last December and had followed it up with a magnificent 208 in an ODI against New Zealand the previous month. However, the team management went ahead with Rahul, who has had a dismal record in recent times, for the first two Tests. Rahul managed only 38 runs in three innings, which took his career average down to 35 in 47 Tests.
Speaking on the most recent episode of The ICC Review, Shastri voiced his opinion that it is time for the current coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma to back Gill for the Indore Test. Shastri believes that Gill is the better choice for the opening slot and deserves a chance to prove himself. “He (Gill) is that good at the moment, and whether he scores or doesn’t score, on form, on merit, he deserves a chance,” Shastri said.
Shastri is also of the opinion that the inclusion of Gill will not affect the team’s combination or plan as India aims for a series win in the third Test against Australia, having already retained the trophy for the fourth straight time. When asked about how making changes to a winning team might affect the combination, Shastri replied, “Not at all. I mean, it’s straight up. It comes down to performance. You stick it on the board. This is the performance. It’s a tough thing for a coach. I remember I had to do it many times, where you just sit down, and explain to the player, ‘This is what’s on the board, what do you think?'”
Shastri’s views are shared by many other experts in the cricket fraternity who have been backing Gill over Rahul for the opening slot. Gill has been in fine form in domestic cricket and has also performed well in his limited opportunities at the international level. Rahul, on the other hand, has struggled for consistency and has been under pressure for his place in the side.
While the debate rages on, it remains to be seen whether the team management will make the switch and give Gill a chance in the third Test. With the series already in India’s bag, the team has the luxury of experimenting with the team combination and giving opportunities to players who have been waiting on the sidelines. The third Test at the Holkar Stadium promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams looking to end the series on a high.
