Former coach Ravi Shastri wants India to play Shubman Gill as opener in the remaining two Tests against Australia.

KL Rahul had partnered Rohit Sharma at the top of the order in the first two games. But Rahul, who was the designated vice-captain till the last Test, has had scores of 22, 23, 10, 2, 20, 17 and 1 in his last seven innings.

Shastri, in fact, feels that there is no need to appoint a vice-captain for a home series as that only leads to complications.

“The team management know his (Rahul’s) form, they know his mental state. They know how they should be watching someone like Gill,” Shastri said on the ICC Review podcast.

“I always had the belief (to) never appoint a vice-captain for India.

“I would rather go with the best XI, and if the captain has to leave the field, you’d zero in on a player that can take over at the time, simply because you don’t need to create complications.

“If a vice-captain doesn’t perform, someone can take his place; at least the tag is not there. I’m being blunt and brutal, I never like vice-captain in home conditions. Overseas, it’s different.

“Here, you want prime form, you want someone like Gill, who’s red hot. He will challenge. He has to bang that door down and get into the side. Now, he (Rahul) is not the vice-captain, it has to be team management’s decision,” said Shastri.

Shastri said a break can do a world of good for a player who is struggling with form. “Sometimes a break for the player in those conditions is far better because he can go away work on his game and come back stronger.

“In my tenure, (Cheteshwar) Pujara was dropped, came back with hundreds... KL Rahul was dropped, came back strongly. You can’t carry T20 form into Test cricket.”

Mental edge

Shastri feels if it’s a Australia-India contest in the World Test Championship final, Rohit Sharma’s men will have a psychological edge even though the match will be played in England.

“There will be an impact but conditions will be different, Australia’s fast bowlers will be back fully fit.

But the psychological dent will make India believe that even in those conditions, they can upstage Australia.

“A 4-0 win (in the ongoing series) will psychologically send a strong signal.”

India currently lead the series 2-0 and another win will confirm their spot in the World Test Championship final.

Written with inputs from PTI