For Rohit Sharma’s potential replacement Gaikwad & Easwaran both fail auditions
Easwaran is in exceptional form, having scored four centuries in his last six first-class matches, positioning him as a strong contender. Gaikwad, while not matching Easwaran's recent success, has shown promise with one century and three fifties in his last seven red-ball outings. Both openers are vying for a spot in the India A lineup, particularly with Rohit Sharma likely unavailable for the first Test against Australia due to personal reasons related to the expected arrival of his second child.
With Rohit’s potential absence, the competition intensifies between Gaikwad and Easwaran to secure the opening slot alongside YashasviJaiswal. Currently, Easwaran has the upper hand as he has been selected for India’s squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
However, if Rohit misses one or both of the initial Tests, Gaikwad could step in as his replacement. This creates an intriguing dynamic as both players seek to capitalize on the opportunity to represent India, making their performances in the upcoming matches crucial for their respective cases. Ultimately, the choice may come down to form and fitness as they both strive to secure their places in the lineup.