New Delhi, India

India is focused on the three-match Test series versus New Zealand, at home, which got underway on Wednesday (Oct 16). However, they have one eye on the forthcoming five-match Test series in Australia, starting on Nov 22 in Perth. There are reports that Indian captain Rohit Sharma might miss the first Test, in Perth, due to personal reasons. In this case, it will be interesting to see who leads and also opens for India. While they have two good options in the form of Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, former Indian spinner Anil Kumble feels Gill should not be promoted to fill in for Rohit. Starting his Test career as an opener, the right-hander has moved to the No. 3 slot, succeeding Cheteshwar Pujara.

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'There's KL Rahul who is synonymous with change and adapting to whatever the team wants'

"You know he (Shubman) is exceptionally talented, skilful and he's done that. He's been to Australia before. Like you mentioned, in Brisbane, he got a wonderful fifty there and he knows the conditions," Kumble told the broadcasters during a rain-marred Day 1 of the India-NZ first Test on Wednesday in Bengaluru.

He further opined, "I don't want to change that. I know there's a temptation to push Shubman Gill because Rohit is not available in the first Test. But, there's always KL Rahul, synonymous with change and adapting to whatever the team wants. Whether you want to open the batting or keep wickets, Rahul Dravid did that, now KL Rahul is doing that."

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Rahul started his Test career as an opener but has now moved to the lower-order recently.

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Kumble also spoke on how Gill at No. 3 will be crucial for India's success in Australia and stated that his playing style is a lot different than Rahul Dravid and Pujara (who owned that slot for a long period before him).

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He mentioned, "You said, for the last 25 years, there have been only two players who have been consistently playing (at one down) and it's a tough role. I mean, both those batsmen, Rahul and Cheteshwar, contributed immensely during that period, and you know you have to balance it out. You could probably be batting the second ball of the test match, or you could be batting much later when the conditions are easier."

"But more often than not, you get in there to control that first session and see off the new ball because we know that the Kookaburra Ball after the 1st 25 hours, the best time to bat is between the 30th over and the 60th over. And that's what these two batters did throughout their careers, ensuring that the team was safe and the four number four, number five and number six batters, came in much later into the lineup so that they could comfortably bat and score the runs.

"So Shubman will have to play that role very specifically in Australia. He may have to change a little bit based on the conditions. He has the ability (to do that) as well," Kumble added.

Gill has played 27 Tests with 1,656 runs at an average of 36.80, including five hundreds and six fifties.