INDORE: For the second consecutive day here at the Holkar Stadium, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill went toe to toe in the batting nets, practising for long durations against net bowlers, regular bowlers and throwdown experts.
For the second consecutive day, Gill outlasted Rahul in the nets, but only marginally. That both are being put through the paces with such rigour could imply that someone is watching, and that someone may have the unenviable task of choosing between the two come Wednesday for the third Test against Australia.
It's not an easy choice for India because while Gill has shown glowing form in the ODIs and T20Is and looks the part of a Test batter, there are no guarantees on these sort of pitches. That's also not to suggest Rahul isn't pleasing to the eye, even in the nets. It's a question of form and Rahul seems to have run out of it. If luck is on his side, he may get another game, but being removed from the vice-captaincy means he is droppable.
Wicketkeeper KS Bharat, when asked point blank who would play between Gill and Rahul, gave a resigned look and said nothing: "That is team management's call, not mine." The million-dollar question, then, is who among Gill and Rahul is a better player of spin?
'Shot selection critical on these tracks'
Bharat did stress, however, on the need for proper shot selection on these spin-friendly pitches. "The intent is never a problem, shot selection is critical on these tracks. You just need to back your defence. The wickets are not unplayable. And you can't just defend. You have to look for scoring opportunities," he said.