IND vs SL: Shreyas Iyer Has All The Shots And The Temperament For No. 3, Can Replace Cheteshwar Pujara - Gautam Gambhir

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir reckoned that the Indian team can try to promote Shreyas Iyer up the order and let him occupy the No.3 position left vacant by Cheteshwar Pujara’s axing from the Indian Test tea.

Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have returned to the domestic circuit to try and recover their form and regain their place in the playing XI. As a result, the middle order has opened up with plenty of youngsters vying for the spot.

For now, nothing is certain but the upcoming 2-match Test series will confirm what the Indian think tank is considering. They have Shubman Gill, Hanuma Vihari, Priyank Panchal, and Iyer but Gambhir believes the latter is the best choice.

“He has been brilliant so far. He showed it during his innings against New Zealand. Not everyone can score a century in their first Test innings. He has got all the shots and has the temperament of a middle-order batter.”

“He can build an innings well and play anchor. He can be the perfect No. 3 batter for India. I don’t see why he can’t replace Pujara in India’s Playing XI,” Gambhir had stated during the India vs South Africa series this month.

The decision will have to be made by the head coach, Rahul Dravid, and newly-appointed Test captain, Rohit Sharma. The squad also sees the exit of the senior pacer, Ishant Sharma, and wicket-keeper batter, Wriddhiman Saha.

The transition phase in Indian Test cricket has more or less begun but the chairman of selectors, Chetan Sharma, has reaffirmed that does not have to be the end of the road for the senior players.

India’s Test squad for the Sri Lanka series:

Rohit Sharma (c), Mayank Agarwal, Priyank Panchal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, R Pant, KS Bharat, R Ashwin (subject to fitness), R Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, J Bumrah (vc), Md. Shami, Md. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Saurabh Kumar.

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