IND vs ENG: Ex-India selector suggests new batting position for Rohit Sharma - Shubman Gill is not a No. 3 player

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IND vs ENG: Former India selector Sarandeep Singh has said that Shubman Gill is not a player who can bat at number three, and should instead open with Yashasvi Jaiswal. He also suggested that Rohit Sarma should come down the order to accomodate Shubman Gill in the India playing eleven.

The statement from Sarandeep Singh comes after India's shocking defeat in the first Test in Hyderabad despite taking a 190-run first innings lead, and Gill's repeated failure while batting at number three. Gill has scores of 6, 10, 29*, 2, 26, 36, 10, 23 and 0 ever since he started to bat at number three.

''Gill is not a number three player. He should open. Rohit is one of the best players of spin and can drop down to accommodate Gill at the top,'' Sarandeep Singh told PTI.

Earlier, former India opener Wasim Jaffer made a similar suggestion. He reckoned that Gill does not have the temperament to bat at number three, adding that India captain Rohit Sharma should take the position as he is a brilliant player of spin bowling.

''Gill and Jaiswal should open and Rohit should bat at no.3 in 2nd test in my opinion. Waiting to bat for his turn isn't helping Shubman, it's better he opens the inn. Rohit plays spin really well, so batting at no.3 should not worry him too much,'' Jaffer posted on X.

India and England will lock horns in the second Test match in Visakhapatnam from February 2. KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja has been ruled out of the second Test due to injuries. Virat Kohli will also be absent because of personal reasons. Sarfaraz Khan, Washington Sundar and Saurabh Kumar have been added to the squad in their absence.