Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25: KL Rahul emerges as new option to replace Rohit Sharma as opener for Perth test

KL Rahul was dropped from the XI during the home test series against New Zealand.

Senior cricketer KL Rahul is likely to find his way back into the Indian test XI as he could open in the first test in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, which will get underway on November 22 in Perth.

Rahul might open alongside left-hander Yashasvi Jaiswal as skipper Rohit Sharma is all but certain to miss the opening test of the five-match series against Australia due to personal reasons.

India captain Rohit has not confirmed his participation for the first test in Perth. On the contrary, Rohit said he “wasn’t too sure if I’ll be going to [Perth]. But let’s see. Fingers crossed.” Sharma said this after the third test against New Zealand in Mumbai, where the Kiwis completed the whitewash by a 3-0 scoreline. This was India’s first-ever whitewash in a home test series of three or more tests.

KL Rahul might get the nod over uncapped Abhimanyu Easwaran to replace Rohit at the top

Rahul’s test career could take another turn as he might be asked to open the batting again in the first test in Perth. He could get the nod over the uncapped Abhimanyu Easwaran, the backup opener in the squad who has been in good form in domestic cricket in India but has failed in three knocks against Australia A in Mackay and Melbourne.

A big indication that the selectors and management’s plan of having Rahul open in Perth came in the second India A vs Australia A match.

Rahul, along with Dhruv Jurel, arrived in Australia about a week before other squad members to participate in the second four-day game between India A and Australia A in Melbourne, where India and Australia will play the Boxing Day test from December 26.

Rahul has been batting in the middle-order since last year in the test team but was dropped after the first test against New Zealand in which Sarfaraz Khan slammed a 150-run knock.

In the second unofficial test against Australia A, KL Rahul opened the batting for India A. Though he was dismissed for only four runs, while Easwaran managed a duck, that he opened the batting is a clear signal from the management that they are pondering over opening with Rahul in Perth.

Before being given the middle-order role last year, Rahul had been opening for India in tests. As an opener, he averages 34, which may not look great but he’s batted in some of the toughest conditions in test cricket against some of the strongest bowling attacks over the past eight years. He is also one of the only two Asian openers since 1992 to have scored test centuries in England, South Africa and Australia.

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