Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has backed Ruturaj Gaikwad to replace Shubman Gill in the second Test match against South Africa. Gill was ruled out of the opening Test match due to a neck spasm after facing only three deliveries in the first innings.
Gill is likely to be ruled out of the second Test and Chopra wants in-form Gaikwad to replace the Indian captain. The renowned commentator highlighted that India already has six left-handers in their playing XI and they must back Gaikwad in the team.
South Africa has a quality spinner in Simon Harmer, who bagged eight wickets in the opening Test match at Kolkata and he would once again challenge the left-handers’ outside edge.
“Should Ruturaj Gaikwad be selected in the Test team? You might be wondering how he can be selected as the team is already selected, and no one has gone out. There is still no clarity on Shubman Gill’s participation. He has been discharged from the hospital, but there is still a question mark over his participation,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“Just in case he doesn’t become available, you will have to play someone. You have Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal sitting outside – two more left-handers. You have six left-handers in the XI at the moment. Do you want to go with seven left-handers? You want to change that, maybe,” he added.
The former Delhi cricketer said Gaikwad has been in solid form for India A and the team can name him as a replacement.
“He is in excellent form. He is scoring runs for India A in white-ball cricket. Don’t know why he is not played in the days’ format when the India A team plays, but wherever he is playing, whether it’s the Ranji Trophy or the Duleep Trophy, he has been scoring the runs,” he said.
The reputed commentator said Gaikwad has a sound technique, and he can also bat in the middle order.
“He even bats in the middle order. He looks technically compact. It seems like he has been made to play Tests, and this is the same ground where he struck a T20I century vs Australia. So I am building a case for him that if there is any chance of Shubman Gill not playing, paradrop and bring him in,” Chopra observed.
Gaikwad recently scored 185 runs in two unofficial ODIs against South Africa A while playing for India A.
