Published: Nov 18, 2025, 01:12 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 18, 2025, 01:12 PM (IST)
In the first Test, India fielded six left-handers in their lineup, and South African off-spinner Simon Harmer took eight wickets by exploiting the match-up advantage. To make matters worse, Shubman Gill was injured during the Kolkata Test, and it is unclear whether he will be available for the Guwahati match. Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra suggested that since Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal, both left-handers – are the other options on the bench, India should instead consider Ruturaj Raikwad, who has been in good form, to join the playing XI.
“Should Ruturaj Gaikwad be selected in the Test team? You might be wondering how he can be selected as the team is already selected, and no one has gone out. There is still no clarity on Shubman Gill’s participation. He has been discharged from the hospital, but there is still a question mark over his participation,†the former India opener said.
“Just in case he doesn’t become available, you will have to play someone. You have Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal sitting outside – two more left-handers. You have six left-handers in the XI at the moment. Do you want to go with seven left-handers? You want to change that, maybe,†he added.
“He is in excellent form. He is scoring runs for India A in white-ball cricket. Don’t know why he is not played in the days’ format when the India A team plays, but wherever he is playing, whether it’s the Ranji Trophy or the Duleep Trophy, he has been scoring the runs,†he said.
“He even bats in the middle order. He looks technically compact. It seems like he has been made to play Tests, and this is the same ground where he struck a T20I century vs Australia. So I am building a case for him that if there is any chance of Shubman Gill not playing, paradrop and bring him in,†Chopra observed.
