IND vs AUS: Rahul Not as Opener, Washington Over Ashwin - Sanjay Manjrekar Picks India 11 For Perth Test

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Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has a place for KL Rahul in his India playing 11 for the first Test against Australia, but does not believe the right-hand batter is the ideal option for the vacant opening slot for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener.

Team India will be without skipper Rohit Sharma and injured batter Shubman Gill for the first Test of the upcoming five-match series, starting on Friday (November 22) at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

Despite the duo's absence India do have options for the opener's slot and the number three slots in the form of Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Devdutt Padikkal. However, Manjrekar picked his playing 11 and batting order in a different way.

While Rahul had a place in his side, Manjrekar feels the batter's low-confidence rules him out as an opening option, which is being backed for a possible debut by the former cricketer.

Manjrekar has picked Easwaran as the opening partner for Yashasvi Jaiswal, and has named backup wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel in the number three spot above Padikkal. Meanwhile, the former Indian cricketer has explained why Rahul will bat in the middle order.

"It's not like KL Rahul as an opening option is setting the stage on fire. Going by the reality, KL Rahul currently you can see, you've got to feel for him, I love him as a player the kind of talent he has," Manjrekar was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

"He looks a bit down on confidence and you don't want someone like him batting at the top of the order because much of the tempo of the innings is set at the start number 1,2 and 3."

Manjrekar further stated that he feels that Rahul would bat perfectly at number six and will provide value to the team at that position, backing the Karnataka batter to do well when the ball is softer and batting with tailenders.

"I'm going by KL Rahul for the work he's done down the order and very recently in South Africa. He was batting at number six with a softer Kookaburra ball and if he has to bat with the tailenders, I feel he will be terrific where he's got the big game as well. So I see KL better used and more chances of KL Rahul adding value to the team at that position," he added.

While Rahul is being picked at number six by Manjrekar, the former Indian cricketer as expected picked Virat Kohli at number four and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant at five.

Manjrekar also backed Washington Sundar to partner Ravindra Jadeja as the spinner above veteran Ravichandran Ashwin, and picked Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep as his three pacers. Here is a look at the India XI predicted by Manjrekar:

Sanjay Manjrekar's India Playing 11 for Perth Test

Abhimanyu Easwaran, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.