“At the moment, there is no confirmation but we will let you know exactly what the situation will be. Hopefully he’s going to be available, but everything we’re going to get to know at the start of the series,” Gambhir said at a press-conference in Mumbai before the squad’s flight to Australia.
A group of five players – Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Gill, Washington Sundar and Jaiswal – have already left for Australia, while the rest of the squad will leave later on Monday, but Gambhir didn’t confirm if Rohit will be on that plane or not.
Which raises the question of who will open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal if Rohit isn’t there.
“Once it gets closer to the first Test match, we’ll plan and play the best playing XI that’s going to do the job for us.”
Prior to the fresh developments, Rahul looked set for a role as a middle-order batter in Tests, but Rohit’s potential absence has put him back in contention at the top of the order.
“There are times when you go with the experienced players as well. And that is the quality of the man. That he can bat at the top of the order, he can bat at No. 3 and he can actually bat at No. 6 as well,” Gambhir said of Rahul. “You need quite a lot of talent to be doing these kinds of jobs as well. And he’s kept wickets in the one-day format as well.
“Imagine how many countries have players like KL who can open the batting and can bat at No. 6 as well? So I feel if need be, he can do the job for us, especially if Rohit is not available for the first Test match.”
Rahul has plenty of experience facing the new ball in overseas conditions and is one of two Asian openers – Saeed Anwar being the other – to have scored Test centuries in Australia, England and South Africa.
“We will try and get the best combination possible who can do the job for us in Perth. And be it Shubman opening the batting or Easwaran or KL, it all depends on what we feel is the right combination,” Gambhir said.
The Perth Test will begin on November 22.
