“We will know if they’re able to replace both Ajinkya and Pujji” – Dinesh Karthik backs Gill and Sarfaraz to play vital roles in Australia

Former Indian veteran wicket-keeper bat Dinesh Karthik has backed Shubman Gill and Sarfaraz Khan to play vital roles in Australia and fill in the big shoes of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. Gill has been given the number three position in Test cricket whereas Khan has highly impressed in the domestic circuit.

After his consistent performances in the Ranji Trophy, Khan made his Test debut against England. Khan, whose fitness has often been questioned, showed he was ready for the big stage, scoring a quickfire 62 off 66 runs in his maiden Test innings before he was sold down the river by Ravindra Jadeja.

Khan scored 200 runs in three Test matches against England at an average of 50. On the other hand, Gill scored 452 runs in five Test matches against England at an average of 56.50 and finished as the second-highest run-getter.

Gill has scored 1492 runs in 25 Test matches at an average of 35.52, including four centuries.

Meanwhile, Pujara had scored 521 runs in four Test matches on the 2018-19 tour of Australia whereas Rahane had led India to a historic 2-1 series win in the previous tour of Australia.

“Shubman Gill and Sarfaraz Khan. Both of those batters have done really well against England in the home series that recently happened at the start of the year. I have a feeling both of them will definitely be on that flight to Australia and will be trying to do their best. We will know if they’re able to replace both Ajinkya and Pujji (Pujara). Big shoes to fill, but they have the quality and calibre in them,” Karthik said in a Q&A session on Cricbuzz.

India will play the first Test match against Bangladesh, starting on 19 September whereas the Border-Gavaskar Test series against Australia will kick off on November 22 in Perth.