Anil Kumble suggests India to open with KL Rahul instead of Shubman Gill in Rohit Sharma's absence for first BGT Test

After there have been reports circulating regarding the supposed absence of Rohit Sharma for India's first Test against Australia which is scheduled to commence on November 22, there have been talks going on within the cricket fraternity as to who the other opener would be who would partner Yashasvi Jaiswal. A notable faction has suggested Shubman Gill to be promoted up the order, especially considering that he has already opened the batting for India in 17 out of the 27 Tests he has played up until now. 

However, former India cricketer and former head coach of the national team, Anil Kumble, was of a different opinion and pushed the case for KL Rahul to open the batting during the Perth Test.

"I don't want to change that. I know there's a temptation to push Shubman Gill because Rohit is not available in the first Test. But, there's always KL Rahul. That name is synonymous with change and adapting to whatever the team wants. Whether you want to open the batting or keep wickets, Rahul Dravid did that, now KL Rahul is doing that," stated Kumble, as quoted by India Today.

He may have to change a little bit based on the conditions: Kumble

Providing precedents of Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara, two extremely technically proficent batters who have played some fabulous innnings for India Down Under, Kumble highlighted what the two did for the side which held them as well as the batters coming in after them in good stead. He also shed light on the Kookaburra ball as well as the period after which it generally gets easier to bat in Australia. 

"For the last 25 years, there have been only two players who have been consistently playing and it's a tough role. I mean, both those batters, Rahul and Cheteshwar, contributed immensely during that period, and you know you have to balance it out. You could probably be batting the second ball of the Test match, or you could be batting much later when the conditions are easier.

"More often than not, you get in there to control that first session and see off the new ball because we know that the Kookaburra Ball after the 1st 25 overs, the best time to bat is between the 30th over and the 60th over. That's what these two batters did throughout their careers, ensuring that the team was safe and the number four-six batters came in much later into the lineup so that they could comfortably bat and score runs," mentioned Kumble.

"So, Shubman will have to play that role very specifically in Australia. He may have to change a little bit based on the conditions. He has the ability (to do that) as well," he added.

This will be the first instance of the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy holding a five-match Test series after the 1991-92 edition when India had toured Australia.