India’s Top-Order Dilemma Ahead of Border-Gavaskar Series
KL Rahul is expected to open alongside Abhimanyu Easwaran in India A’s second unofficial Test against Australia A, starting Thursday in Melbourne. With Rohit Sharma potentially unavailable for the initial stages of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, this pairing could set up a direct competition for the role of opening partner with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the first Test in Perth on November 22.
Sources indicate that both Rahul and Dhruv Jurel, who joined the India A squad in Australia ahead of the main team to gain match practice, will play in Melbourne. Rahul will partner Abhimanyu as opener, while Ruturaj Gaikwad, who opened in the first unofficial Test, is set to bat in the middle order, with Jurel taking over wicketkeeping duties from Ishan Kishan. Rohit’s availability for the tour remains uncertain, as he recently stated he was "not too sure" about travelling to Perth.
Without Rohit, India’s selectors face a challenging decision regarding the opening lineup. Abhimanyu, called as the backup opener for the Australia tour, has consistently impressed in first-class cricket, with four consecutive centuries leading into this series. Over his career, he has accumulated 27 centuries across 100 first-class matches, averaging 49.40.
Originally considered for the middle order, Rahul has played solely in that position since the 2023-24 South Africa tour, where he scored 339 runs in 10 innings, averaging 37.66. However, he is well-acquainted with opening overseas and is one of only two Asian openers with Test centuries in England, South Africa, and Australia. Although his overall opening record is modest—averaging 34.94 across 75 innings—Rahul excelled as an opener in the 2021 England tour, stepping in due to injuries and scoring a memorable century at Lord’s.
Rahul’s career took further turns by the start of the 2024-25 home season, when he was established as India’s preferred No. 6. However, Sarfaraz Khan’s 150 against New Zealand in the same season saw Rahul edged out after scoring 16, 22, 68, 0, and 12 in his next five innings. Sarfaraz, however, also faces questions about his place in the XI, with limited experience outside India and no substantial scores in recent matches against New Zealand.
Given the pace-friendly conditions expected in Perth, India’s team management may consider whether to keep Rahul in the middle order with Abhimanyu opening, or to introduce an alternative approach by fielding both Jurel and Rishabh Pant, using one as a specialist batter.
While recovering from a knee injury after a car accident in 2022, Pant has been unavailable. Jurel, who impressed on his Test debut against England with innings of 90 and 39, earned the Player-of-the-Match award in Ranchi and has since cemented his place as India’s backup keeper.
With multiple combinations possible for Perth, selectors will closely observe Jurel’s performance in Melbourne alongside Rahul and Abhimanyu’s handling of the new ball.
09 November 2024, 12:00