Shubman Gill reveals the chat he had with coach Rahul Dravid for number 3 position in tests

Shubman Gill has batted at number 3 only once in his test career of 16 matches.

India have handed Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ishan Kishan their test debuts in the ongoing first test against West Indies. Both of them have entered the elite list of just 307 Indian test players. With Yashasvi Jaiswal making his debut at Windsor Park in Dominica, opener Shubman Gill has been slated to bat number 3 replacing Cheteshwar Pujara in the test playing XI.

Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped from the Indian test squad after his poor show with the bat this year. Indian captain Rohit Sharma revealed that it was Shubman Gill himself who went to coach Rahul Dravid asking for the number 3 place. Shubman Gill has played as an opener in his 16-test-long career. 

Shubman Gill's chat with Rahul Dravid

Shubman Gill himself has revealed the chat he had with Indian head coach Rahul Dravid while asking for the number 3 position. Gill said, “In India A matches, I batted a lot at Number 3 and 4. They asked me where I wanted to bat in the series and I said I wanted to bat at number 3 and I think it’s a good position for me that is where I wanna consolidate. It is always an advantage to play against a new ball. I have that advantage while opening the batting. Batting at Number 3 is not very different from opening the batting. You probably get a little more break in between innings”. 

Shubman Gill has batted once at number 3 in tests and scored 47 runs against New Zealand at the Wankhede stadium. Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped from the Indian test squad after the World Test Championship final against Australia. Pujara had a poor run with the bat earlier in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as well. With Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan’s entry in the test team, and Shubman Gill’s charge at number 3, Team India have officially entered the transition period. Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane are set to bat at number 4 and number 5 respectively.