Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill. (Photo: Twitter)

It appears that KL Rahul will replace Shubman Gill at the top of the order alongside Shikhar Dhawan in the next ODI series against Zimbabwe, which will serve as a dress rehearsal for the Asia Cup.

Given the importance of the T20 World Cup and Gill’s lack of experience in the shortest format, he may be given a number three spot to guarantee that his captain has adequate game time before the regional event in the UAE, which begins on August 27.

This assumes that all three are healthy and available for all of the games in the series.

Devang Gandhi (TOI)
Devang Gandhi (TOI)

KL Rahul Needs To Open To Get Enough Game Time: Devang Gandhi

“I think Shubman is being groomed in the right way by the Indian team management. While he has done exceedingly well in the Caribbean ODIs, what I can gauge from this team’s philosophy is to prepare players for multiple slots. Hence I feel for this particular series, Shubman might have to come in at No. 3,” former national selector Devang Gandhi was quoted as saying by News 18.

KL Rahul
KL Rahul. (Photo: Twitter)

“Look, No.3 is a proper top-order slot. He might have to come in as early as the second ball of the innings and that is as good as opening the batting. Also, my hunch is that once Rahul has enough game time under his belt, he will again bat middle-order with Gill being prepared for the 2023 event,” Gandhi added.

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“I agree it is difficult after you have had such a good series. But currently, the aim would be to prepare Rahul for the Asia Cup T20’s opening slot. He needs to get a lot of batting time and that’s a priority. I think it will be a short-term arrangement as Shubman I feel is being groomed as an opener for the ODI World Cup,”  added Deep Dasgupta as per News 18.

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