India’s Opening Crisis for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024: Who Will Replace Rohit Sharma
With four hundreds in his last six first-class games, Easwaran was in outstanding form prior to the Australia tour. With less than two weeks to go for the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) between India and Australia, there is still uncertainty surrounding Team India’s opening pair. Team captain Rohit Sharma may be unavailable for the series opener in Perth due to personal reasons, leaving a spot open at the top of the batting order. One of the contenders for this role, Abhimanyu Easwaran, hasn’t managed to capitalize on his opportunity in the ongoing India vs. Australia series, leaving selectors with more questions than answers.
Abhimanyu Easwaran’s Struggles Raise Doubts About His Readiness for the BGT
Easwaran was in outstanding form prior to the Australia tour, having amassed four hundreds in his previous six first-class games. He has been identified as a possible Sharma substitute based on his performance.. However, his recent outings in the unofficial Test series against Australia have been disappointing. In the first match in Mackay, he scored only 19 runs, and in the second match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Easwaran was dismissed for a golden duck. Michael Neser’s ball was tough and came up out of nowhere, but it still made people wonder if Easwaran was ready for international cricket.
Ruturaj Gaikwad Faces Setbacks as India’s Opening Slot Remains Unfilled
Another potential candidate for the opening slot, Ruturaj Gaikwad, also faced setbacks in the initial stages of the India series. Gaikwad started the first game but had trouble making an impression. In the MCG Test, he was moved down to the fourth position, reducing his chances of opening in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With Rohit Sharma’s availability still uncertain, Gaikwad’s shift to the middle order suggests that the management may have lost confidence in him as a viable replacement at the top.
KL Rahul’s Struggles Threaten His Spot in India’s BGT Opening Pair
The struggles of Gaikwad mirror those of Easwaran, and with just one inning left in the series, it’s unclear who will partner Yashasvi Jaiswal in the opening slot for the first Test in Growing worries regarding Team India’s preparations for the forthcoming series are reflected in the uncertainty around the opening position.
KL Rahul’s Inconsistent BGT Form Forces India to Consider Other Opening Options
Meanwhile, KL Rahul, who was expected to open for India, had a forgettable outing at the MCG. He managed to stay for just four balls, hitting one boundary before conditions are well-documented. His recent form in the middle order hasn’t done enough to boost his confidence as an opener, and his inability to capitalize on game time during the series has only added to growing uncertainty.
India’s Opening Slot Chaos Deepens as Selection Decisions Loom for the BGT”
Despite previous Test centuries in challenging conditions like England and South Africa, Rahul’s recent form has been inconsistent. Many have questioned if he is the best candidate to join Jaiswal at the top order for the BGT 2024–25 because to his poor opening record and failure to compete in the India series. As first test of the BGT series approaches, head coach Gautam Gambhir and the team management are running out of time to finalize their starting lineup. The lack of solid performances from Easwaran, Rahul, and Gaikwad has left an opening in the lineup, and with no practice matches left, it’s uncertain who will be approved as Jaiswal’s partner in Perth.
BGT 2024 Countdown: India’s Opening Crisis Reaches a Breaking Point
The team management might have to make a judgment based on scant information with only one inning remaining in the series and no more chances for the contenders to establish themselves.It’s concerning that none of the potential openers have scored a half-century, and the pressure on the Indian team to find a solution is mounting as the series start draws nearer
