Sunil Gavaskar names the Indian batsman who can take Virat Kohli’s No. 4 spot in trials after his departure. | Photo – IANS / AP |
Key points
- Virat Kohli will play only the first Test Match of the next series against Australia
- Virat Kohli to return home from Australia on paternity leave
- Sunil Gavaskar chose a batsman from India who can take Virat Kohli’s No. 4 spot in the remaining trials
Team India’s batting lineup will be ready for a severe challenge in the upcoming Test series against Australia when Virat Kohli returns home on paternity leave after the conclusion of the first Test. Kohli will miss the remaining three test matches to be with his wife Anushka Sharma for the birth of their first child. The first test in Adelaide will begin on December 17.
While Ajinkya Rahane is likely to lead the Down Under test camp the past three games, in the absence of Kohli, it remains to be seen who will take the position of Indian captain No. 4 in the batting lineup. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar recently picked the hitter he thinks can hit number four in the absence of Kohli.
During a panel discussion with former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, Gavaskar said that Rahane will hit No. 4 for India and it may be a draw between KL Rahul and Shubman Gill for fifth place.
“Obviously Virat is there only for the first test, so you would expect Rahane to take over (as captain), but they (India) have to find someone to hit at number 4. Who do you expect to take that number 4 spot? ? “- Ponting asked Gavaskar during the discussion about 7 Cricket.
“It seems to me it could be KL Rahul. Believe it or not, I actually think Rahane will be number 4 once Virat leaves, ”Gavaskar replied.
“Then I could have Rahul hitting No. 5 or Shubman Gill,” added the former India captain.
While Rahul was inducted into the test team on the back of a stellar 2020 IPL campaign for Kings XI Punjab, his last appearance with the whites for India was in August last year. However, in the absence of Kohli, Rahul could have a chance in the XI game with Rohit Sharma also in the first two tests.
Gill, on the other hand, has yet to make his tryout debut for the India team and could get his first game for the Whites Down Under on the current tour.
