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Xtra Time Web Desk: Former India captain Anil Kumble has emphasized that Shubman Gill should remain at No. 3 in the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, even if Rohit Sharma is unavailable for the first Test. Kumble acknowledged Gill's experience in Australia and urged the team to resist the temptation of pushing him back to the opener’s role, suggesting Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul should handle opening duties instead.

"You know he (Shubman) is exceptionally talented, skilful and he's done that. He's been to Australia before. Like you mentioned, in Brisbane, he got a wonderful fifty there and he knows the conditions," Kumble told the broadcasters during a rain delay on Day 1 of the Test between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru on October 16.

"I don't want to change that. I know there's a temptation to push Shubman Gill because Rohit is not available in the first Test. But, there's always KL Rahul that name is synonymous with change and adapting to whatever the team wants. Whether you want to open the batting or keep wickets, Rahul Dravid did that, now KL Rahul is doing that," he said.

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Gill, who started his career as an opener in 2020, shifted to No. 3 in 2023 after Cheteshwar Pujara's departure from the Indian Test side. Kumble highlighted that Gill’s style of batting is more aggressive than previous No. 3 batters like Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara. However, Kumble believes Gill is versatile and can adapt his game to the challenging Australian conditions, especially against the new ball.

Kumble said, "Shubman has the ability to change his game according to the conditions, and his role at No. 3 will be crucial to India's success in Australia." He emphasized that controlling the early phase of the game and surviving the new ball will be vital, as the best time to bat in Australia is often after the first 25 overs.

Kumble highlighted how Gill's style of batting is unlike the style that Rahul Dravid and his successor Cheteshwar Pujara adopted while batting at No. 3. The legendary cricketer said Gill is capable of being versatile and his role at No.3 will be crucial to India's success in Australia.

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"You said, for the last 25 years, there have been only two players who have been consistently playing and and and it's a tough role. I mean, both those batsmen, Rahul and Cheteshwar, contributed immensely during that period, and you know you have to balance it out. You could probably be batting the second ball of the test match, or you could be batting much later when the conditions are easier," Kumble said.

"But more often than not, you get in there to control that first session and see off the new ball because we know that the Kookaburra Ball after the 1st 25 hours, the best time to bat is between the 30th over and the 60th over. And that's what these two batters did throughout their careers, ensuring that the team was safe and the four number four, number five and number six batters, came in much later into the lineup so that they could comfortably bat and score the runs.

The five-match Border-Gavaskar series will begin on November 22 in Perth, marking the first time in over 30 years that India and Australia will contest a series of this length.