Shubman Gill‘s woes continued against Bangladesh in the first Test at Chepauk. The player had to go back out without disturbing the scorers. It will not be a surprise if Gill is made to sit out if his struggles continue. At the same time, the management must have a few names as a backup. If these players are groomed from now for the No.3 role, India would not face any problems if there is an urgent request. Here, we take a look at the list of two players India must groom for the No.3 role if Shubman Gill’s poor form continues.
1) Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad will be a very good choice to come in at No.3. He should have already made his Test debut but is yet to get a chance. Nevertheless, if he continues to push the selectors with his consistent displays, the day is not far when he plays for India in whites.
However, he could have to tune himself to become a batter at No.3. He has operated in a similar role before although the sample size and the formats are different. Ruturaj needs to add some more shots against the pacers and he will be ready to become a permanent member of the side.
2) B Sai Sudharsan
B Sai Sudharsan is one of the players India must groom for the No.3 role if Shubman Gill’s poor form continues. It will be interesting to have a left-hander at No.3. It will give a different dynamic especially because Virat Kohli, a right-hander, comes in at No.4.
Also, Sai is grooming himself to have a long stint with the Indian Test Team. Although he is a genuine opener, he can be backed at No.3 because both roles require almost similar attributes. Sai’s patience is great and he provides solidity in the batting line-up. Therefore, he is ideal to be groomed for this role.
