India’s veteran wicket-keeper bat Dinesh Karthik wants in-form Shubman Gill to replace KL Rahul in the third Test match against Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series. Gill has been in prolific form in the limited-overs format whereas Rahul has scored only 38 runs in the three innings he has played against the Aussies.

Rahul has been under the pump for his place in the team and he has also been dropped as the vice-captain of the team for the next two matches.

The Indian opener has scored 2642 runs in 47 Test matches at a below-average of 33.44. Rahul has amassed 1214 runs in the last 48 Test innings since 2018 at a below-par average of 25.82.

On the other hand, Shubman Gill has been in amazing form in 2023 and had delivered against Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Rahul didn’t have the rub of the green on his side in the second innings of the Delhi Test as the ball ricocheted off Peter Handscomb’s shinpad and Alex Carey took a simple catch.

“I think he [KL Rahul] played the best shot possible to that ball. But he would also know that if he is going to be dropped for the remaining matches, which is pretty much an eventuality, it is not because of this one innings. It is because of what has happened and transpired over the last five or six Test matches,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz.

“He is a class player and is very good in all formats. But at this point in time, I don’t think it’s the technique. I think it’s because of what happens between the ears that’s really troubling him. He might need some time off from the game to go back and come back fresh for the ODIs,” Karthik added.

Karthik, who is part of the broadcasting team for the ongoing series, wants Shubman Gill to get his deserved chance in the final XI.

“I have to go with Shubman Gill, he’s just batted beautifully. There will be just one change in the playing XI. I feel very bad for KL Rahul, I think he’s been under the scanner,” Karthik said.

The third Test match between India and Australia will be played at Indore from March 1.