Shubman Gill gets maiden call-up to India Test squad, Rohit Sharma picked as opener

[Kool_SRG]

Shubman Gill has won his first Test call up as India announced their squad for the home series against South Africa. The former Under-19 World Cup winner replaced KL Rahul from the team that went to the Caribbean recently, which means India will be trialing a new opening combination when the series starts on October 2.

Mayank Agarwal kept his spot at the top of the order but there has been a lot of speculation on who will partner him. Rohit Sharma's name had done the rounds in the lead-up to the squad being named - with pundits such as former captain Sourav Ganguly and former IPL team-mate Adam Gilchrist supporting his promotion up the Indian batting order.

Those cases were made on the basis of Rohit's prolific form as India's ODI and T20I opener, but he has only performed that role three times in his first-class career. Nevertheless, chief selector MSK Prasad rubber-stamped the experiment on Thursday saying "[We] want to give Rohit Sharma an opportunity to open the innings in Tests."

Gill, meanwhile, has been banging the door down to India's Test team for a while. In July, the 20 year-old had expressed his disappointment at not being selected for India's tour of the West Indies, saying he expected to be there in at least one of the squads. He responded by scoring an unbeaten 204 off just 248 balls after coming in at 14 for 3 against West Indies A in the third four-day game. Earlier this week, captaining India A against South Africa A in Thiruvananthapuram, Gill scored 90 in the first innings.

In 14 first-class matches so far, Gill has amassed 1443 runs at an average of 72.15 with a highest score of 268. In Ranji Trophy 2018-19, he was the top-scorer for Punjab with 728 runs at an average of 104 despite playing only five games.

India squad: Virat Kohli (Capt), Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk),Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill

[Kool_SRG]

 

@timmy        @former    @MRI    @reality    @Sucker     @Kontekurradu       @Naaperushiva       @JANASENA

 

@perugu_vada     @argadorn   @gilly      @dalapathi    @Demigod  @Ara_Tenkai  @CricPokChic      @LazyRohit

 

@Pipucbn    @r2d2     @dasara_bullodu   @SeemaLekka    @Spartan   @Hydrockers   @Sarvapindi

[Kool_SRG]

Why Gill was selected?

 

“Shubman Gill has done well both as an opener and a middle-order batsman. So yes, he can be a back-up opener if needed. There is no dearth of openers in the country. We have created a good pool of players. There is Priyank Panchal and Abhmanyu Easwaran who are doing really well in domestic circuit,” said MSK Prasad.

[Kool_SRG]

Chief selector speaks

On Rohit Sharma’s position: “Rohit has been selected in the side as an opener. He will open in the three matches and also for the Board President XI.”

On KL Rahul’s exclusion: It is unfortunate that Rahul couldn’t perform consistently. He played well in patches.”

[Kool_SRG]

 

[Kool_SRG]

Just now, Kool_SRG said:

On Rohit Sharma’s position: “Rohit has been selected in the side as an opener. He will open in the three matches and also for the Board President XI.”

Major Test cricket break thru awaiting Rohit... If he can grab this he would be a sure pick for Tests also from now..

[Kool_SRG]

Test series schedule

India are scheduled to play three Tests against South Africa. The first match will of the series will be played in Vizag, second in Pune and third in Ranchi. The three-match series will begin after the culmination of three-match T20I series.

Visakhapatnam Test: October 2-6, 9:30 AM IST

Pune Test: October 10-14, 9:30 AM IST

Ranchi Test: October 19-23, 9:30 AM IST

[r2d2]

hopefully he has a better match temperament than Pant... good idea to brew the youngsters...

[dude85asi]

Rohit sharma 💪

[dude85asi]

Gill ✈️

[gilly]

Gill 

[Kool_SRG]

India vs South Africa: Rohit to Lead Board President’s XI Against Proteas in Practice Match

Ahead of the important South Africa Test series is another chance for Rohit Sharma to get himself into red-ball cricket mode, as he has been named the skipper of the Board President’s XI side in a three-day tour match against the visitors beginning September 26 in Vizianagaram.

Ahead of the important South Africa Test series is another chance for Rohit Sharma to get himself into red-ball cricket mode, as he has been named the skipper of the Board President’s XI side in a three-day tour match against the visitors beginning September 26 in Vizianagaram.

This match will be played in between the three match T20I series and the three Test match series.

 

The BCCI in a press release confirmed that the Rohit Sharma-led team will have the likes of Priyank Panchal, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Karun Nair, all of whom have been among the runs in recent months. Mayank Agarwal, who is a part of the Test squad, has made it to the BP XI team as well.

 

All-rounder Jalaj Saxena and bowlers Shardul Thakur, both of whom were part of the India A side that beat South Africa A in the first unofficial Test earlier on Thursday, along with fast bowler Umesh Yadav have also been included in the squad for the practice match.

Umesh, like Rohit, will be looking to make this chance count and comeback into the Indian Test team, which currently has a surplus of good quality fast bowlers. The 31-year old played only five Tests in 2018, and just one during the tour of Australia where he claimed two wickets in Perth.

 

 

Board President’s XI: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Mayank Agarwal, Priyank Panchal, AR Easwaran, Karun Nair, Siddhesh Lad, KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Jalaj Saxena, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, Avesh Khan, Ishan Porel, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav

[Kool_SRG]

[argadorn]

rohit gadiki enni chances echaru ani vella badha ...laddulodhi 

[r2d2]

they should try out Gill in place of Rohit in the first test itself..... else.. home series lo I doubt he will get a chance...