Former spinner Harbhajan Singh feels that Shubman Gill will have to wait for his chance and urged the team management to stick with Dhruv Jurel for the Adelaide Test. Gill, who has been India’s No.3 in Tests, missed the Perth Test win, due to an injury. The Indian star would then make his return during the practice game against the Prime Minister’s XI and made a mark with the bat.
India face a selection headache before the pink-ball Test, with Rohit Sharma set to return. KL Rahul had excelled in the opener’s spot in Rohit’s absence and this has left many wondering if the India skipper would sacrifice his spot and come down the order. Harbhajan had suggested earlier that he doesn’t see Rohit coming any below than No.3 and suggested to Sports Today in an exclusive chat that India should stick with Rahul and Jaiswal as the openers.
The former spinner felt that Gill would have to make way for Rohit at No.3.
“I would say let this KL Rahul-Yashasvi Jaiswal combination to continue. Shubman Gill, I guess, will have to make way for captain Rohit Sharma at No.3 and then Virat Kohli at No.4. After that, it is almost set.”
Feel Jurel should be given the chance
Harbhajan went on to say that India cannot use Gill at No.5 after he started off as a top-order batter and the situation is a bit complicated heading into Adelaide. However, the former spinner felt Jurel should be given the chance, despite not scoring runs in the Perth win.
“I guess Gill will have to wait for his chance. You took Jurel in for a match and when he didn’t make runs, you would make him sit outside. So you can’t play Gill from opening to No.5 as well. It’s a complicated situation and you do feel trapped. But it’s good only.”
“I feel they will play Gill ahead of Jurel. But I feel Jurel should be played and given the chance,” said Harbhajan.
Jurel scored 11 and 1 in the 2 innings he played in the Perth Test.
