India vs Australia: ‘KL Rahul should replace Prithvi Shaw as opener’ – Sunil Gavaskar suggests potential changes for India in Melbourne

India vs Australia: ‘KL Rahul should replace Prithvi Shaw as opener’ – Sunil Gavaskar suggests potential changes for India in Melbourne

KL Rahul, Sunil Gavaskar, Prithvi Shaw (L-R)

KL Rahul, Sunil Gavaskar, Prithvi Shaw (L-R)

Soon after the infamous defeat for India at the inaugural Test in Adelaide, cricket experts from all over suggested the potential changes for the visitors ahead of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar also made two possible replacements before the second game in Melbourne.

Gavaskar reckoned that India needs to start well on December 26 to avoid a 4-0 whitewash against the Aussies. The former cricketer also pointed out India’s long-going problem of poor field placements and dropping regulation catches. 

“India should start the Melbourne Test well, they must step onto the ground with a lot of positivity. Australia’s weak point is their batting,” Sunil Gavaskar told Sports Tak.

Also Read | India vs Australia: ‘Have to have a tighter technique for opening’ – Brad Hogg identifies ‘better suited’ position for Prithvi Shaw

“India has to believe that they can come back in the remainder of the Test series. If India doesn’t find the positivity, then their 4-0 series loss can happen. But if they have positivity, why not? It can happen (comeback). It’s natural that there is anger after such a performance. But in cricket, anything can happen. Look at how the scene was yesterday, and what has happened today.

“Had we held on to our catches well and had good field placements, there might not have been any problem, Tim Paine and Marnus Labuschagne would have gotten out early. We could have got a lead of 120 runs. Australia got ahead in the Tests because of those dropped catches, they got the lead down to 50 runs,” Gavaskar added.

‘Rahul and Gill should come in’

Ricky Ponting
Prithvi Shaw scored 0 and 4 respectively in Adelaide Test

Sunil Gavaskar suggested that KL Rahul and Shubman Gill must come into the side for Virat Kohli and Prithvi Shaw. Virat has left for India for the birth of his first child while Shaw performed horribly during the inaugural Test.

“India will look at making two changes. Firstly, maybe KL Rahul should replace Prithvi Shaw as an opener. At No. 5 or No. 6, Shubman Gill should come in. His form has been good. Things can change if we start well,” Gavaskar said.

Also Read | India vs Australia: ‘I have confidence that he will do well’ – MSK Prasad calls for ‘gutsy’ Hanuma Vihari to be promoted up the order