The first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test is just a few days away and India would be without the services of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill for the series opener against Australia in Perth. While skipper Rohit has decided to spend time with his family after welcoming a second child, Shubman Gill was injured during the match simulation against India A at the WACA, Perth. The right-handed Gill suffered a fracture to his left thumb while trying to catch a slip.

Now it remains to be seen who will bat at number 3 in place of Shubman and former Indian cricketer Kirti Azad, who was part of the 1983 World Cup-winning squad, has suggested to the team management that he should go for Virat Kohli.

It must be said that Virat Kohli had batted at number 3 when Shubman Gill missed the first Test of the three-match series against New Zealand due to neck stiffness. However, Kohli’s return to this batting position paints a bleak picture as he has registered just 167 runs in 8 innings.

His average is just 23.85, with just a half-century, while he is at number 3. Despite these unfavorable figures, Kirti Azad believes that Virat Kohli is the best choice as Shubman’s replacement for the crucial position.

“I think Kohli is the best choice for number three. He has scored runs at number three (across all formats). And your best hitter should always be at number three. We start questioning players if they are not doing well, maybe in a series or maybe a few innings,” Kirti Azad told Times of India.

Of course Kohli will ‘get into shape’

Virat Kohli is entering the Border-Gavaskar Trophy under strict scrutiny of his form. The 36-year-old has only two centuries in the last four years when it comes to Tests. In his last ten innings, he has scored just one score over 50.

However, with favorable numbers in Australia, Kohli is expected to regain his mojo Down Under. In 13 Tests in Australia, Kohli has scored more than 1,300 runs.

“But I suppose he has done a humane service to the country, and we expect him to do well again. And I am sure he will get into shape. He likes challenges, even if this is a tough task in Australia ” says Kirti. Azad said.

Recently, when Virat Kohli came on at number 3 in Bengaluru against the Kiwis, he was dismissed for a duck in the first innings. However, in the second innings he managed to score 70, batting at the same position.

It remains to be seen whether the management will go with Virat Kohli at number 3 after doing so earlier in the last series. Instead of Rohit Sharma, it will be Jasprit Bumrah who will lead India in the Perth Test against Australia starting from November 22.

Indian squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.