KL Rahul was dropped from India’s 15-member Test squad for the three-match Test series against South Africa following a series of poor runs with Shubman Gill receiving a maiden Test call up. Chief Indian selector MSK Prasad also tipped Rohit Sharma to open the innings for India in Tests. Rohit had been in and out of the Indian Test team but now has been given a new opportunity to cement his place in the Indian team for the longest format of the game. India vs South Africa 2019 Schedule for Free PDF Download Online.

Rahul’s inconsistency at the top of the Indian batting-order despite showing signs of a proper batsman resulted in his ouster, which now gives Rohit another opportunity to seal his place. Gill, who was rewarded for his consistent performances for India A, is set to play as a reserve opening batsman and might as well get an opportunity to bat in the middle order. In 60 innings as a Test opening batsman for India, Rahul has scored just 2006 runs with five centuries and 11 fifties, while Rohit from 47 innings has scored 1585 runs and has three hundred and 10 fifties. India vs South Africa 2019: Rohit Sharma Can Succeed as Test Opener in India, Says Australian Legend Adam Gilchrist.

Rohit also has an average of 39.6 in the same period, while Rahul has struggled with an average of just 34.6 in 36 Test matches. Both Rohit and KL Rahul had a perfect start to their Test careers, with Rohit hitting consecutive Test centuries against West Indies in 2013, while Rahul smashed his first Test century in Sydney – in his only fourth Test innings – against Australia in 2015. His last Test hundred came in September 2018 and Rahul has since then not scored a single fifty.

Rohit Sharma to Open

Rohit Sharma Deserves It

Rohit Sharma Has to Prove This

Chance to Make the Place Permanent

He Has to Grab This Opportunity

Rohit Will Smash New Records

He Can Become One of the Best

Meanwhile, sans Rahul, India retained the same Test squad that played against West Indies. Gill was the only new addition to the 15-member squad, which included Kuldeep Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha.

Thank You, KL Rahul,

Remember Me

Virat Kohli is Arriving to Bring His Friend Back

Meanwhile, Kohli Fans:

You Are Happy? I am Also Happy

India's Test Squad For Three-Match Test Series Against South Africa

India’s squad for 3 Tests: Virat Kohli (Capt), Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk),Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill.

India will play South Africa in three-match Test series, which is set to begin from October 2 and will continue till October 23. The Test series will begin following the conclusion of the three-match T20I series. The first Test will be played in Visakhapatnam from October 2-6, while the second game will be held from October 10-14. The third Test will be played at Ranchi and will be held from October 19-23.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 12, 2019 05:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).