All said and done, it's yet to be seen if KL Rahul opens for India in the Perth Test. Debate over Rohit Sharma's absence continues.

New Delhi: Just days away from what promises to be another exciting Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, Team India has a surprise test on its hands ahead of the opening Test against Australia in Perth on November 22. The uncertainty revolves around Indian captain Rohit Sharma joining the team for the opener owing to personal reasons. This has left the head coach Gautam Gambhir and the team management weighing their options for a new opening partner to join Yashasvi Jaiswal if Rohit is unavailable.

India A has been involved in the first unofficial Test match of the two-match series against Australia A. The second unofficial Test is scheduled to begin on November 7 in Melbourne. India A lost the previous game by seven wickets, and so the pressure on the players too was more, as they were fighting for inclusion in the senior team. KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel have now been added to the India A team for this second game and will look to make a mark here. According to a recent media report, KL Rahul may open as an opening batsman in this match, which shall create a significant boost to his chances in this Test series.

Rohit's unavailability has now given Rahul and Abhimanyu Easwaran an opportunity to impress the selectors. If either of Rahul or Easwaran can make the most of the opportunity with a big score against Australia A, then it is a no-brainer to select one of them as Rohit's replacement in the first Test. Either Rahul or Easwaran is likely to walk into Test cricket with Jaiswal being his partner.

Abhimanyu Easwaran had a fantastic season and his overall first-class career reads 7,657 runs in 100 matches with 27 centuries and a 49.4 average. In the coming days, it will be revealed whether the role is taken by Rahul or Easwaran to accompany Jaiswal if Rohit misses the series opener at Perth.

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