For the Shubman Gill-led India, another clinical win in the third T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare on Wednesday and taking a 2-1 lead in the series will certainly be the topmost priority.

The team combination, too, will also be on the minds of both Gill and VVS Laxman, who’s the coach for this tour.

The arrival of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube, who were a part of India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad, have joined Gill and Co. in the Zimbabwean capital and will be available for selection from Wednesday’s game onwards.

Among the trio, Jaiswal and Samson warmed the bench right through the World Cup, and it’s quite fair to give the duo some game time in the ongoing tour. Drafting Samson in shouldn’t be much of a problem as the keeper-batter can come in place of Dhruv Jurel. But where does oneslot Jaiswal?

Abhishek Sharma hit a game-winning ton in the second T20I opening the innings alongside skipper Gill, while Ruturaj Gaikwad scored an unbeaten 77 at No.3. It may not be too fair to bench either of them just to accommodate Jaiswal.

Now, benching Riyan Parag — though he got just one innings to bat so far — and bringing the left-hander in his place could be one option for the team management. In that case, Gaikwad can drop one place to No.4 to make room for Jaiswal in the top three.

Gaikwad, primarily an opener, has also said he’s open to batting at No.3 or whichever position his team wants him to. “Wherever the team wants, I will bat there. There is no problem. There is not much difference between opening and the No.3 position because you have to play the new ball,” he said on Tuesday.

For his state team Maharashtra too, Gaikwad has batted at No.3 on quite a few occasions. Captaining Chennai Super Kings in the IPL this year has helped him to get more involved in the game, though it didn’t make any difference to his batting, Gaikwad specified. “Nothing has changed much. My batting has been the same as before.

“I have to play with responsibility and try and finish it on my own. I think I’m more involved in the game now since I have captained the IPL franchise for some time. So you tend to be into the game for a longer period instead of just staying within the boundary and focusing on one ball. Batting-wise, it’s not made much difference,” he explained.

In terms of bowling, India don’t have too many reasons to worry as the likes of Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan and Ravi Bishnoi had done a good job even in the shock loss in the series opener last Saturday. In both the games so far, Mukesh has struck early making good use of the new ball.

Leg-spinner Bishnoi’s googlies have also been effective so far.