After losing the World Test Championship against New Zealand, India have shifted their focus to five-match Test series against England, starting August 4. However, the visitors lost the services of opener Shubman Gill due to a stress-related injury for whole of the series. Gill sustained two shin splints – medial tibial stress syndrome.

In the latest development, the Indian team wants opener, Prithvi Shaw, to join them in the UK for the series. It is to be noticed that India already has three openers in the 24-man squad. KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Abhimanyu Easwaran.

“Here is a batsman (Prithvi Shaw) in the absolute form right now, playing an inconsequential series (in Sri Lanka) whereas he can be in England and the team will have a cushion to fall back on. It’s been five days now and the selectors haven’t even blinked yet,” the Times of India quoted a source as saying.

“As against having to fall back on a batsman (Easwaran) who last did his bit in the First Class circuit more than two seasons ago. Isn’t it more sensible to have a batsman (Prithvi) who’s in form and the elements of his batting well documented already?… There is no reason why the BCCI should not sending him,” TOI further quoted the source as saying.

As for Prithvi, he performed poorly in the New Zealand and Australia tours. However, he bounced back in style in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, becoming the first cricketer to score 800-plus runs in a single edition.

He also broke MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli‘s record of the highest individual score by an Indian batsman in List A chase.