Former India selector Jatin Paranjape reckons that Prithvi Shaw could be a surprising package for the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy series. He feels that Shaw could add a new dimension to India’s top order before describing him as the 'dark horse’ for the series.

Recently, speculations were rife that Rohit Sharma might miss one of the Tests against Australia owing to personal reasons. Meanwhile, India’s national chief selector Ajit Agarkar and his team are a bit busy identifying the potential candidates to fill the backup opener role.

While candidates like Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sai Sudharsan are being considered for the role, Jatin Paranjape is of the notion that Shubman Gill is probably a good choice for the third opener since he has the potential to open the innings and also bat one down.

"Shubman Gill is probably a good choice for the third opener because he can bat at number three and also open the innings. However, I’d also consider KL Rahul for the third opener role, depending on the situation. Everyone is scoring runs. Easwaran is doing well too. There’s also a dark horse that nobody is talking about: Prithvi Shaw. This domestic season will be crucial for Shaw," Paranjape added in an exclusive interview.

For the record, Prithvi Shaw’s last Test appearance came in 2020, during the series against Australia in Adelaide. Having played 5 Tests so far, he scored 339 runs at an average of 42.37, including one century and two fifties.

The 24-year-old made an unforgettable debut in 2018, smashing 134 runs against the West Indies, becoming the youngest Indian cricketer to score a hundred on debut at the age of 18. Unfortunately, his career trajectory since then has been unsteady as his cricketing chapter was marred by injuries, form slumps and off-field issues.

Meanwhile, with the Ranji Trophy season coming up ahead, Shaw has a great opportunity to impress the selectors once again. Paranjape expressed optimism about Shaw's chances, highlighting the importance of form and performance.

"If Prithvi Shaw has a strong season, he’ll be in the race. I think he is the most talented player in the country, but there’s tough competition, and whoever is in the best form at the time will get picked," he added.