KL Rahul in the race to fill in for Rohit Sharma as opener in Perth Test

After the setback India received at the hands of New Zealand at home, the camp is working hard to ensure a victory in Australia. As per the latest update, KL Rahul is anticipated to open alongside Abhimanyu Easwaran in the second unofficial match between India A and Australia A in Melbourne. KL Rahul, along with Dhruv Jurel, was sent early to Australia in an attempt to acclimatize to the conditions down under and provide sufficient game time. However, the preparatory match against Australia A is going to be a crucial one for Rahul. If the batter comes up with an impressive knock in Melbourne, Rahul could earn the opening spot in the main team for the BGT.

KL Rahul likely to open with Abhimanyu Easwaran in the next India A vs Australia A match 

Reportedly, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir will utilize the second match between India A and Australia A as a platform to find the opening prospect for the tournament opener. While it is yet to be officially confirmed, skipper Rohit Sharma is likely to miss the Perth Test. If Sharma remains absent, the side will need to find a reliable prospect to replace him in the opening position. When India named the squad for the Border Gavaskar series, Abhimanyu Easwaran earned a place, backed by an impressive century in the Irani Cup. However, the batter would need to come up with a resounding knock against Australia A in the second match if he aims for the opening spot in the absence of Rohit Sharma.

As per a recent report, both KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel were sent to Australia ahead of schedule due to limited game opportunities at home, and both will now feature in this four-day India A match. This lineup shift means Ruturaj Gaikwad, the captain who opened in the previous match against Australia A, will move to the number three spot, with Ishan Kishan stepping aside from wicketkeeping to make room for Jurel.

The addition of KL Rahul as opener in Melbourne might suggest selectors remain hesitant to rely on Easwaran in high-stakes matches, especially after his scores of 7 and 12 in the first India A game. A strong performance from Rahul here could secure his spot in the top order, a familiar position where he’s known as one of only two Asian openers to have scored centuries in England, South Africa, and Australia. Although his opening stats, 2551 runs in 75 innings at an average of 34.94 are modest, a convincing show could win Gambhir’s confidence. Similarly, Jurel’s inclusion in the India A side could indicate a potential spot in the playing XI for the opening Test if he delivers an impressive performance, possibly edging out Sarfaraz for that place in Perth.