NEW DELHI: KL Rahul has been a regular feature in the opening slot along with skipper Rohit Sharma in Test cricket but his struggle with the bat in the recent past has cast doubts over his role in the upcoming four-match Test series against Australia starting Thursday in Nagpur.
And Shubman Gill‘s emergence as an opener across all formats can also be the reason if Rahul bats in the middle order.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the first Test, Rahul said if need arises he will be more than happy to do it, when asked if he would like to bat in the middle-order where he had started his Test career back in 2014.
“If it arises, then I’m more than happy to do that. Whatever little cricket I’ve played for the country, I’ve always done that.
“Whatever the team has asked me to do, I try and prepare that way and try and do my best for the team, and if that is something that the team wants me to do here, I’ll be more than happy to do it,” Rahul said, although it is unlikely that he would come down the order.

Rahul also spoke about the pitches that are going to offer help to spinners and admitted that the team might be tempted with the rank turners to play three spinners in Nagpur.
“There will be a temptation to play three spinners. We are playing in India, where pitches are going to spin. But it is still early to know what the pitch is going to do exactly,” said Rahul in a pre-match press conference.

Rahul also made it clear that the batters have honed their skills of playing spin and admitted that the series is a must-win for India as they have their eyes on the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
“We have worked on playing spin. We know how pitches are going to be there in India and what to expect. So keeping that in mind, we are practicing. Each of us have individual plans, everyone wants to play their own way, which has been discussed with the group,” said Rahul.

“It is a must-win series. When it is India versus Australia, both teams want to win and it is a big series. It is no different than any other Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. We do realise that we want to play the World Test Championship final. But we also want to stay in the present and take it one game at a time,” added the batter.